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A HISTORY 

OF THE TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE OF 

HOWELL, MICHIGAN 



— BY — 

A. Riley Crittenden 

Author of 

Judson Vane's Revenge 

The Electric Wedding 

Phantom of Hallowe'en 

One Large Turnip 

Etc., Etc. 



HOWELL, MICHIGAN 

Livingston Tidings Print 

1911 






iim 







Ir\trodactior\ 

HE son of pioneers of Howell, my first recollec- 
tions were associated with early days here. 
These pioneers are gone. Only a few remain, 
last leaves clinging to the tree of life. With 
their departure go the stories of their lives^ the 
foundation period of our local history. 

More than twenty years ago when the writer was 
publishing the Livingston Herald, I conceived the 
idea of publishing a his'iory of Howell and had the 
work well under way when that paper was sold. The 
fire soon after burned up all but one copy. 

Nearly four years ago the present work was com- 
menced, the matter running in the Livingston Tidings 
as fast as prepared. Every possible effort has been 
made to verify the facts and details, but some errors 
have crept in. The work of time too, has made 
some changes in the four years since the first chap- 
ters were printed. We believe however that the 
subject matter is nearly all correct history. It has 
been an honest effort to preserve that which would 
otherwise have been lost. 

The Author 



CHAPTER 1 
Before tbe fSettleiiient 

That portion of the history of Howell township 
which is of interest to ns is mainly included in the 
years which have elapsed since the white man fonnd a 
horoe here, still no history would be complete without 
at least a passing: glance at the territory when under 
the domain of the red man alone. This township was 
border territory between the domains of the Pottawat- 
tomies and Saerinaw Chippewes although more espec- 
ially within the territory of the latter tribe. No spe- 
cial feuds seem to have existed between these nations 
and in fact this territory was little more than their 
summer hunting erround where temporarj^ villages 
were erected near which the squaws raised their corn, 
maize, beans and pumpkins. As fall came on they 
mostly left this section for their more permanent vill- 
ages in the vicinity or Flint and Shiawesseetown. 

The tribe was scattered and badly broken up as a re- 
sult of their alliance with the English in the war of 
1812, and early settlers found only roving bands of 
the tribe who had been the principal occupants of 
thi« territory. According to traditions of the Chipp- 
ewas, this section was occupied previous to their 
ownership, by the Sauks, a warlike tribe which was 



8 inSTOUY OF HOWELL 

much hated by them and who were completely de- 
stroj-ed by an allianee of the (Jliippewas, Pottawatt- 
amiesand Ottawas, by a series of massacies following: 
a great massacre of their principal village on the Sag- 
inaw river, from which onl}^ twelve women were 
spared. The only warriors to escape the tommahawk 
were a few who fled to their canoes and paddled across 
the lake. An Indian bnrying ground on the farm of 
Ira Brayton, probably vised by the Sauks Avas thus 
described by Elisha H. Smith, in 1868: "On the 
north-west quarter of section twenty- two there are 
several places of bural. Judging from the appearance 
of the mounds where they were interred, they com- 
menced burying their dead at the top of the ground, 
covering the corpse with earth. They then placed 
other bodies above this one, until the mound was sev- 
eral feet high. Several of these mounds have been 
opened for phrenological observation. Their traits of 
chaiacter were found similar to those who lived here 
;i( Uie time of the settlement by the whites. They 
were buried with their heads in a south-easterly di- 
rection. The Indians who lived here at the time the 
inounds were opened, had no knowledge of the.n. 
On the exposure of. the bones to the atmosphere, they 
would soon decompose." The poor Ohippewas were 
in constant dread of the spirits of the exterminated 
Snuks. If misfortune befel them, if their traps failed 
ti* hold the game or if their rifles failed to slioot ac- 
<Mirately, it was the spirits of the Sauks and nothing 



HISTOUY OF HOWELL' 9 

conld they accomplish until the medicine men had 
been brought and the poor spirits either set at rest or 
otherwise quieted. 

Several Indian trails ran in this section, the most 
important of which was the Grand Kiver trail which 
took much the general direction of the jrravel road 
in after years, except that north of this place it bore 
a little more northerly. A fork of the trail joined it 
near the present village of Howell, running in from the 
Indian village near Shiawasseetown. It was mostly 
along the trail fioin Detroit that the early pioneer 
found their way to Ilowell aud neighboring points. 

Early claim to this section passed back and fourth 
with the claims of French and English to Detroit 
and Michilmaekinac. At the close of the Revolution, 
English officers were instrumental in securing an al- 
liance of most of the Indians of the nortfi-west and an 
effort was made to hold the territory under English 
rule. General Antony Wayne was sent with a body 
of troops, into what is now Ohio and after a few vic- 
tories, he succeeded in bringing the Indians to terms. 

His treaty of Greenville, in 3 095, was the first 
agreement between the LTnited States and Indians, 
relative to the land which now forms Howell. By this 
treaty the Indians simply became subjects of the 
United States, acknowledged their territory a part of 
the United States, and placed themselves under the 
protection of this government. In June, 1706, the 
forts of Detroit and Mackinaw were surrendered and 



10 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

English rule over this territory ceased except for a 
short time during- the war of 1812. The Northwest 
Territory embraced this section from that time until 
1800 when it became part of the then new territory of 
Indiana. In 1805 the territory of Michigan was or- 
ganized and William Hull was made its first governor. 

The township of Howell, with all the land in this 
section of Michigan, was embraced in the territory 
ceded by the Indians to the United States government 
by a treaty at Detroit, on November 17th, 1807, and 
its remaining so long without settlement is no doubt 
owing to the fact that a government surveyor sent to 
Michigan in 1815, with an idea of giving one hundred 
and sixty acres of land to each soldier of the Revolu- 
tion, reported that "not one acre out of a hundred, if 
there would be one out of a thousand, that would in 
any case admit of cultivation." Governor Lewis Cass 
failed to believe this report and having secured the 
proper assistance, in 1819 made an exploration which 
largely quieted the bad impression which prevailed. 

Several townships of this county had white settlers 
before Howell; Putnam leading with the man whose 
name it bears, in 1828. 

This township formed a part of Wayne county, af- 
ter its organization until January 3 5, 1818, when it 
became a part of Macomb county. It was a part of 
Oakland county frorfi January 12, 1819 until Septem- 
ber 10, 1822, when it was placed with Shiawassee 
county where it remained until the laying out of Liv- 
ingston county, March 21, 1831, but the organization 
of this county was not perfected until March 24, 1836. 



CHAPTER II 
The First Settlement 

Thp year 1833 may almost be set down in this town- 
ship as a period of exploration. The recently erected 
bnt unorganized county drew many parties who went 
over this township in search of homes. Among 
these were John D. Pinckney, 8. N. Warren, George 
T. Sage, Moses Thompson, Orman Coe. Oheekly S. 
Palmer, C. C. Trobridge and John J. Eaman. The 
four last named hav^e the honor of being the first to 
locate land in the township, the last two selecting 
eighty acres on section thirtj^-five and thirtj^-six res- 
pectively, or a part of the present village of Howell. 
It is in the exploration of Messrs. Pinckney and Sage 
and their party however that we are most interested 
as the first settlements in the township resulted from 
their trip. Mr. Pinckney was an energetic butcher 
of Hughsonville, N. Y. Not beius: entirely satisfiecl 
with his advantages he determined to emigrate to the 
then undeveloped west to which his father and broth- 
ers had preceded him. A trip by the Erie canal and 
Lake Erie landed him in Detroit, from where he 
went to Salem, Washtenaw County, which was then 
the home of his people. George S. Sage w^ho was up- 
on the same errand as Mr. Pinckney, joined him at his 



12 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

father's and in companj^ with Mr. Pinckney's broth- 
ers they set out together along the Grand River trail, 
for the new unorganized county of Livingston, as the 
most promising government territory upon which to 
build a home. They built a temporary hut with a 
bark roof, about where the palacial home of Thorne 
& Farus worth now stands, and spent a week prospect- 
ing. The timber was mostly oak openings and the soil 
although not so strong as that of heavy timberd land, 
was of good quality and because of the lighter timber, 
was quicker available to the pioneers for homes. 
Along the creeks and low places coarse grass grew 
more luxuriencly than after fire had burned over the 
ground in early day. Often growing to the height of 
a man's head, to these marshes seeming blemishes 
upon the face of the country, the pioneers were glad 
to go for sustenance for their stock, finding them 
truly blessings in disguise. The beautiful lakes and 
complete wildness of their surroundings made up a 
a series of picturesque scenery for those early pion- 
eers over which the artists of HoweU to-day would go 
completely wild. 

Mr. Sage selected a homestead a little west of their 
prospector's cabin and Mr. Pinckney one near Thomp- 
son's lake at its southeast extremity. After making 
their minutes of the land selected for themselves and 
several other tracts, they returned to Salem and 
Messrs. Pinckney and Sage went at once to tlie laod- 
offlce at Detroit, and located their land, after which 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 13 

they returned to their homes and began active preper- 
ations to move to their new land. On May 14th, 
]834, Mr. Sage and his father James Saere came with 
their families and settled upon the land selected by 
Gvo. T. Sage as noted above. James Sage's log house 
was erected upon the site now occupied by the elegant 
residence of Wm. McPherson Jr., while George T, 
Sage's was across the Grand River trail to the south, 
or nearly in the center of what is now Grand River 
street. This was the first settlement in the town- 
i^hip. Mr. Sage Sr. only lived about five years after 
settling here. He died June 29th, 1839. The child- 
ren of James Sage were George T., James R. and 
Chester A. George T. Sage died in Marion township, 
August 21, 1852. He -was married to Miss Louisa 
Austin (later Mrs. Rev. G. W. Genks of Brighton,) 
a short time before settling in Howell. Mrs. Sage's 
father, David Ausin, and family came from Salem and 
settled on section 33, on land selected by his son-in- 
law, in June of 1834. Mr. Austin lived upon his 
farm until February 1, 1847, when he died. His wife 
followed her husband about a year afterwards. The 
oldest son of David Austin, David Jr., did not come 
to Michigan. IStr. Austin's other children were 
Johnathan, Louisa, wife of Geo. T. Sage, Melvina, 
afterwards Mrs. George Sewell, and Sally T., after- 
wards Mrs. Merritt S. Havens. Johnathan Austin 
who came with his father, located what is now the 
Gilks farm and lived there for a long time, but after- 



14 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

wards moved to the Upper Peninsula, He was very 
prominent in school and other local matters. 

John D. Pincknej^ settled business matters in the 
east and bringing his family as far as Salem left them 
with his people there while he came with two men he 
had employed, to erect a house for them, and arrived 
here soon after the others. He was in much better 
shape financially than most of his contemporaries in 
Howell, and his capital soon made him very comfort- 
able as compared with those about him although his 
house was the regulation one room cabin of pioneer 
days. He brought with him a team of horses, the first 
to come to this section. His family came on in De- 
cember of that year. In 1842 Mr. Pin(;kney moved to 
the village of Howell, from his farm, and died here 
Feb. 11, 1861. 

The trials to i)e met and difficulties to be overcome 
by these first settlers are not to be estimated by us. 
Occasional trips into new sections of our country at 
the present day may furnish the basis of an estimate. 
With ox teams, little capital and very few conveniences 
of life, they commenced the ^^^ork of civilizing this 
wilderness, Elisha H. Smith described the situation 
in the following words. "The nearest inhabitants 
from the center of the township, at the settlement of 
this place, were eighteen miles away. In a westerly 
direction, it was about forty miles to the nearest set- 
tlement. The nearest mills were eighteen miles dis- 
tant.^' 




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HISTORY OP HOWELL 15 

As the year 1833 could be set down as a period of 
exploration for Howell township, so the year 1835 
should be classed as the year of settlement. The 
rush for homes in the new county was fairly on by 
opening of spring and the township was full of pros- 
pectors and the settlers coming to the land located 
in the previous two years. 

The first new settler was a bouncing boj^ who came 
into the home of George T. Sage on January 23, 1835 
announcing himself to be the first while child born 
in the township of Howell. A pointer of the hard- 
ships in the life of these early pioneers is a little re- 
membrance of Mrs. John D. Pinckney in connection 
with the event of Mr. Sage's birth as told by her in 
after years. Johnathan Austin a brother of Mrs. 
Sage, was sent to Kensington, after a doctor for the 
event. Mr. Austin stopped at Mr. Pinckney' s to 
borrow a horse to make the journey but the team were 
away and he was obliged to go afoot to secure the 
services of Dr. F. Curtiss of that place, who was 
physician to every family in Livingston County at 
that time. It would take a good walker about half a 
day to make the journey through the January snow, 
over the Grand River trail, and the doctor nearly the 
same time to return. 

Among the earliest settlers of 1835, to arrive in the 
township from the east, were Villeroy E., John W. 
and Elisha H. Smith, three brothers who came from 
Ontario county. New York, in May of that year. The 



16 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

last named lived here until quite an old man. For 
many years he was active in the county pioneer society 
and took great delight in recounting his experiences 
in the early days here. He wrote a history of Howell 
which had quite a local circulation about the time of 
its publication. 

Probably the next to arrive in 1835 was Moses 
Thompson and Ezra J. Munday. Mr. Thompson' 
with his son Lewis and daughters Rachel, (afterwards 
Mrs. Houghtaling, later Mrs. Preston) and Lucinda, 
(Mrs. Ezra Frisbee), left Herkimer County in April, 
traveled through Canada in a double buggy drawn by 
the second team of horses brought to Howell, and 
reached Detroit, on May 25th. The remainder of 
the family, Mrs. Thompson, Morris, Edward and 
Maria, Elizabeth and Jane, afterwards Mrs. Clark, 
Mrs Slader and Mrs. Crittenden, respectively, with 
Mr. Munday, left Herkimer County about a month 
later and after a trip of over a week by the Erie Canal 
and lake Erie, landed in Detroit, on the 7th of June, 
Three days later the entire party left Detroit, with 
their horse team and five yokes of oxen which Mr. 
Thompson had bought in Detroit. The family stopped 
several days at Lyon while Mr. Thompson came on 
and commenced his house. Part of them arrived on 
June 23 and stopped at Geo. T. Sage's .until their 
own house which stood just up from the bank at the 
north end of what is now known as Thompson's 



18 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

secured a contract from Cane & Brooks that they 
would erect a hotel upon their plot. Consequently they 
commenced drawing lumber from Woodruff's saw 
mill in Green Oak, soon after their plot was recorded, 
in November, 1835, and erected a two story frame 
house, 20x40 feet in seze, the first in the township, 
on the site now occupied by the Opera House. On 
December 1, 1835, Amos Adams came in from 
Geneseo, N. Y., and opened the hotel under the name 
of the "Eagle Tavern. '^ F. J. B. Crane, and Alex- 
ander Eraser at once became boarders at the tavern 
who with Mr. Adams' family became the first settlers 
within the original village plot as it existed before 
the additions were made. 

The Eagle Tavern at once became the center of 
population for all business matters of the pioneer 
settlement. It was there that religious services in the 
township commenced. Alvin Crittenden, a young 
man afoot and alone, arrived in Howell before a door 
was hung m the village and on Nov. 24, 1835, hired 
to Geo. T. Sage for a year. It is largely to remem- 
brances of this pioneer, father of the author of this his- 
tory, as he was wont to tell them in his latter days and 
to copious notes of a series of most interesting visits 
with the late William McPherson sr. that the events 
herein contained are due. Among others of these 
remembrances was the story of the first religious ser- 
vices which my father told as follows: 

"Deacon Branch who had settled in Marion, thought 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 19 

he could not live without religious meetings, even in 
the wilderness, and hence he took it upon himself to 
commence them. He went to EsQuire Adams our 
noble landlord who kept the hotel in the village— for 
by this time the house was nearly finished, and Amos 
Adams occupied it for a hotel— and obtained consent 
to have religious meetings held in the sitting ro'om. 
At that time the hotel was the only building in the 
village. Notice was accordingly given, and on 
Sabbath morning, I cannot give the date but I think 
it w^as in the month of December, 3 835, the people 
assembled, some coming four or five miles, and the 
sitting room was pretty well filled. Deacon Branch 
conducted the meeting, reading one of Dr, Payson's 
sermons. At the close of the services be called for a 
volunteer to close by prayer. No one ceme to his 
help but the deacon was not discouraged and gave 
notice for a meeting the next Sabbath. On the second 
Sabbath I volunteered to close the meeting with prayer 
Thus it happened that I was the second person who 
took part in a religious meeting in Howell. After 
that, if the deacon had to be away from the meeting 
any Sabbath, he brought to me a volume of Payson's 
sermons with a request that I should conduct the 
services which I did several times that year. On one 
of these occasions I read a sermon from Wesley in- 
stead of the one Deacon Branch had selected and he 
never called upon me to perform the service again." 
Several others who afterwards became prominent in 



20 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

local matters, arrived during that year. Elisha H. 
Smith in his History of Howell published in 1869, 
summed up the settlement at the close of 1835, as 
follows : 

Section. 
Joseph Porter 7 



Samuel Waddel 17 

Whitely Woodruff.... 17 

David H. Austin 20 

Villeroy E. Smith 21 

Elisha H. Smith 21 

Nathaniel Johnson • • • • 23 

Alvin Crittenden 23 

Merrit S. Havens 23 



Section . 

Francis Field 23 

Moses Thompson 25 

Lewis Thompson 25 

Morris Thompson 25 

Edward Thompson .... 25 

Ezra J. Munday 25 

Amos Adams 36 

F.J. B. Crane 36 

Alexander Eraser 36 



All of these earliest pioneers rest from their labors, 
and we to-day enjoy the blessings which their hard- 
ships have secured to us. 



CHAPTER III 
Early Developments 

No soouer bad Crane & Brooks secured &n occu- 
pant for their Easrle Tavern, the only bniiding iu 
their new plot of 120 acres for their town of Howell, 
than they began work to secure a post office, which 
was located here on January 15, 1836 and Flavins J* 
B. Crane appointed post master. His office was in 
the Eagle Tavern as a matter of necessity for there 
was no other place. Previous to the location of the 
office, the few settlers in this vicinity received their 
mail at Detroit, Ann Arbor, Plymouth and Kensington 
and in fact continued to do so for some time after- 
wards, as no provisions were made for carrying mail 
to and from the new office, until March 20, when 
Lewis Thompson took the contract to make weekly 
trips to Kensington, on horseback, for that purpose. 
Soon after that date a mail route was tstablished 
from Ho .veil to Grand Rapids, and James R. Sage 
undertook to find his way over the Indian trails, 
through the wilderness, to carry the mail, a feat that 
he accomplished successfully after his first trip when 
he got completely lost and and was obliged to spend 
the night in the woods. 

An event occured on the same date with the loca- 



22 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

tion of the post office, which must not be forgotten. 
While they were surrounded with the hardships and 
privations of pioneer life, cupid was a pioneer too. 
His first victory was the celebration of the marriage 
of Merritt S, Havens, the first carpenter in the town- 
ship, to Sally T, Austin. The marriage ceremony 
was performed by Esq. Bingham, afterward Governor 
of Michisran. The second wedding was that of Alvin 
L. Crittenden and Jane Thompson which occurred 
August 27 of that same year. Their wedding was 
made a social event. They were the first couple in 
the county to be married by a minister, Rev. John 
Cosart performing the ceremony. Mr. Crittenden 
borrowed a rig and drove to South Lyon the next day 
for a wedding trip, the first taken by any couple from 
Howell. Their wedding feast was right up to the 
very highest point of luxury in those days. Its cen- 
tral dish was a young pig nicely roasted and standing 
on a platter. 

That following winter Mr. Crittenden got out the 
lumber and built a house on a farm bought with the 
savings from his year's work at Sage's. He would 
get out a hardwood log at home, draw it to the saw 
mill at the foot of the lake just east of the head of the 
present flume, and go on to the pinery west of what 
is now the town, where he would cut a pine log to be 
left at the mill on his return. By the time the oxen 
had made the round trip it was night. During the 
evining he would saw the two logs into lumber and 




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HISTORY OF HOWELL 23 

get ready to repeat the round trip the next day. The 
old house stood up the bank from the little lake on 
the MePherson farm in the north part of this town- 
ship and was torn dov^^n only a year or two ago. Mr. 
and Mrs. ('rittenden only lived in it a year or two 
when they bought the farm which has been in the 
family since and is now owned by W. W. Crittenden 
and Mr. and Mrs H. D, Kirtland. They lived there 
until 1854 when Mr. Crittenden joined the M. E. con- 
ference, He served regular pastorates for twenty- six 
years when he and his wife returned to Howell to live. 
The meetings commenced by Deacon Branch in 1835, 
at Eagle Hotel, were soon held from house to house. 
Some time in January, 1836, a Presbyterian clergy- 
man named Wm. Page, stopped at Deacon Branch's 
and word was sent out for services which were held 
at the Deacon's house in Marion. This was the first 
sermon in this vicinity but it remained for Rev. 
Johnathan Post a Baptist clergj^man to preach the 
first sermon in this township, which he did sometime 
in Feburary at the home of George T. Sage. In 
April or May of the same year the second sermon in 
this township was preached at Moses Thompson's 
and was by Rev. Mr. Kanouse, a Presbyterian clergy- 
man. Some time in April or May A. L, Crittenden 
walked to Ore Creek, (now Brighton) to attend a 
Methodist meeting which he heard was to be held 
there. While at this meeting he arranged for Rev. 
John Cosart to come to Howell in four weeks and 



24 IJISTORY OF ifOVVELL 

preai'.h ami form a class. By some mistake the notice 
was given a week to soon. The people assembled 
but as no preacher came, they decided, after a prayer 
meeting, to organize, and elected Pardon Barnard 
chairma'J and A. L. Crittenden secretary of the meet- 
ing. No class book was to be had so A. L. Critten- 
den who was elected leader, folded a sheet of writing 
paper to make a book, ruled it and entered the names 
of members therein. The origonal book is now a 
keepsake of the fa?nily and eontain3d the following 
names as the origional class: "Alvin L. Crittenden 
Pardon Barnard, Eliza Ann Barnard, Peter Brewer, 
Dorcas Brewer. Sylvester Rounds, Polly Rounds, 
Asahel Rounds, Mary Sage, Nathaniel Johnson," Rev. 
Cosart came the next Sunday, probably early in June, 
and preached the third sermon in the township, the 
first by a Methodist minister. He acknowledged the 
procedings of organization and reported it to the Ohio 
conference who sent Rev. Washington Jackson as a 
missionary to Livingston County, during that fall. 
This was the first eharch orginizitioii in the town- 
ship. Pardon Barnard and A. L. Crittenden were 
licensed as exorters by this okss, November 4, 1836. 

Although Livingston County was laid out in 1833, 
the act to organize it was not passed until March 
24, 183G, The act ereoting the township of Howell, 
was approved the day previou;^. The territory in- 
cluded in the township by that act was the present 
townships of Howell, Oceola, Deerfield, Handy, Co- 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 25 

hoctah and Conway. The first town meetlnG: was 
held in April, 183G. A caucus was called of which 

A. L. Crittenden w\ns clerk and he was therefore 
given the work of writing the tickets, in which he 
was assisted by John W. Smith. On the evening be- 
fore the election someone suggested that there would 
be no fun without two tickets and so another was 
nominated nearly like the first, except that F. J. B. 
Crane was nominated for constable. The last nomi- 
nated ticket was also written by the same two gentle- 
men and was victorious in the election.. Nearly if 
not all the white voters in the tonwship as organized 
turned out to the election which was held at the Eagle 
Tavern. The board consisted of Amos Adams, F.J. 

B. Crane, John W. Smith and Johnathan Austin, 
with A. L. Crittenden as clerk. A tea pot and sugar 
bowl wore borrowed from the landlady, to serve as 
ballot boxes and thirty- six votes were cast. Officers 
elected were as follows: Supervisor Philester 
Jessup; Township Clerk. F. J. B.Crane; Justices of the 
Peace, Ezra Sanford, Harleigh H. Graves, John W. 
Smith; Collector, Francis Field; Assesors, Justin 
Durfee, David Austin, Geororo T. Sage; School In- 
spectors, Joseph Porter, F. J, B. Crane, Johnathan 
Austin; Highway Commissioners, John Sanford, Jus- 
tin Durfee, George T. Sage; Constables, John D. 
Pinckuey, F. J, B. Crane, Francis Field, Elisha H. 
Smith. Some of the work of these township officers 
was very crude. The assessment was written upon 



26 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

half sheets of writing paper which were fastened to- 
gather at the ends with wafers. When completed, it 
was fifteen feet long. Justice John W. Smith had a 
case commenced before him but after the points of 
law were argued, the case was discontinued by the 
plaintiff withdrawing his suit and paying costs. 
This was the first law suit in the township. 

At the time the county was organized a strong effort 
was made to locate the county site at Ore Creek, (now 
Brighton) and the adherents to this project did not 
give up entirely until the county buildings were built 
in the present location. This opposition delayed the 
county election a few weeks until the three com- 
missioners appointed by the Governor, to locate 
county sites in counties where there were none, could 
be brought to this county when they located it on the 
old public square of the Crane & Brooks plat now 
occupied by Schroeder's hardware, the Episcopal 
church, etc. The first county election was held on 
the first Monday in May, 1836, and resulted in the 
election of the following officers: Sheriff, Justice J. 
Bennett; County Clerk, F. J. B. Crane; Register of 
Deeds, Ely Barnard; Treasurer, Amos Adams; Cor- 
oners, John W. Peavy, John Drake; Associate Judges, 
Elisha W. Brockway, Elnahan Noble. Only a pait 
of the county officers were residents of Howell and 
that fact made little difference. Even the judge of 
probate did no office business during his entire term. 
The board of supervisors held their iirst meeting in 




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Howell, October 4, 1836, and organized by election 
of Eli Lee of Hartland, moderator. The Democrats 
recieved 142 votes in Livingston County, at the 
election in November, 1836, and the Whigs, 73. 
This was the first division along party lines in the 
county and many of the pioneers feared that it would 
break up tlie good feeling which prevailed. The 
democrats held a meeting and raised a pole near the 
Eagle Tavern. The whigs were much incensed at this 
and shortly after the close of the campaign, some- 
one bored it down with an auger, on a dark night. 

In June of 1836 a heavy freshet swelled the Shia- 
wassee River beyond what it has ever been known 
at any time. Among other damage done was the 
washing away of the log bridge at the Grand River 
Road crossing. This item is noticed only as a sam- 
ple of how lumber was secured before the date of 
mills. To rebuild the bridge two men sawed the lum- 
ber with a pit saw, one standing above the logs which 
were rolled upon the buttments and the other below,, 
the one below wearing a veil. Wm. McPherson and 
family arrived on September 17, while this bridge 
was being rebuilt, and he bought the slabs from the 
bridge for the floor to his house. 

Originally what is now Thompsons lake was three 
little lakes with a tamarack swamp between. Mr. 
Thompson noticed the excellent mill site when he 
prospected in 1833, and located at the foot of the lake 
to secure it. His original log house stood just back 



28 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

af the old house near the foot of the lake and was 
connected with it for years. The old house was one 
of the first frame houses in this countv. It is now 
quite a ways back from the road. When it was built 
the road ran by it. The place is now owned by Mrs. 
Sherman. He also located the tract of pine in the 
western part of the town, to work in his prospective 
mill. A dam was accordingly built and by its in- 
fluence the water raised to about its present level, 
thus uniting the three lakes. The saw mill was fin- 
ished and commenced running in September, 1836, 
the first logs sawed being made into a chamber floor 
for Wm. McPherson's house. So many of the set- 
tlers were in need of chamber floors that Morris 
Thompson who had charge of the mill, would not saw 
more lumber for any one man than enough for his 
chamber floor, until all the settlers had had a chance 
to avail themselves of those much needed conveniences 
for their homes. 

The fiist store in the village was opened by F. J. 
h. Crane, in a room in the Eagle Tavern, but it was 
not a success and after two or three months, the 
goods vrere packed up and stored in the attic of the 
building. The first blacksmith shop was rather more 
successful. Andrew Riddle, father of Mrs. McPher- 
son, came from Scotland in the spring of 1886 and 
built the shop before the arrival of his family who 
came with WmPherson's family in September. Mr. 
Mcpherson's house was built adjoining the shop and 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 29 

he and Mr. Riddle commenced work in the shop soon 
after his arrival, Mr. Riddle moved to Oceola, dur- 
ing the next year and Mr. McPherson continued the 
business until 1841 when he engaged in mercantile 
business in partnership with Judge Turner with 
whom he continued but a short time. In 1845 he 
bought a half interest in business with E. B. Taylor, 
the firm doing business under the name of Taylor & 
McPherson for about two j^eai'* when he bought Mr. 
Taylor's interests, and continued the business in his 
own name until 1852 when he formed a partnership 
with Wm. Riddle, which continued until 1856. when 
Wm. McPherson Jr. bought Mr. Riddle's interest and 
the business was continued until 1864 under the firm 
name of Wm. McPherson & Co., it being changed to 
the present name at that time, and as his sons were 
becoming men he took them one by one into the firm. 
What is now the front portion of the main store was 
erected in 1857. As the old building grew to small, 
additions were built upon its rear from time to time 
until it is now 120 feet deep with two additional stores 
west of the old one. With little change the firm con- 
tinued until the close of 1887 when Wm. McPherson, 
Sr. retired and a new firm was organized composed of 
M. J. McPherson, E. G. McPherson and H. T. 
Browning, who continue the business under the old 
name. Mr. Browning retired January 1, 1898. 

The McPherson bank was started in April, 1865, 
with Alexander McPherson in charge. He remained 



30 HISTORIC OF HOWELL 

in that position until 1890 when he engaged in bank- 
ing business in Detroit, William MePherson jr. took 
charge of the bank here at that time, and is still 
in that position. There have been some changes in 
the firm among members of the family, but the name 
has always remained as it started, Alexander MePher- 
son & Co, 

Prepeiations were made for a school in the fall of 
1836 and a building was commenced but no record re- 
mains to show positively whether it was occupied that 
year or early in 1837. Justin Darfee was the first 
teacher. 

The wolves which infested the country were among 
the terrors of pioneer life and many are the stories of 
narrow escapes from these dreaded terrors. When 
young fellows went to see their best girls the young 
ladies were often called upon to listen with beating 
hearts, to the howling of the wolves which beset their 
beaus on their way home after bidding them adieu. 
The girls learned the direction of their fellow's homes 
and guessed them sefely there when the sound of the 
wolves' howling reached that direction. 

Two Germans by the name of Shrafts, came to 
Howell in 1836. A little before night they broke 
their wagon. One stayed to guard the load while the 
other went to Moses Thompson's with the team, to 
stay all night. When he returned in the morning' 
with two of Mr. Thompson's sons, Shrafts was nearly 
tired to death and complained bitterly of the settlers' 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 31 

big burley dogs. "Why/' said he, **the big burley 
dogs were so saucy. They would put their paws clear 
up oc the wagon and snap and snarl at me, and I 
rould hardly drive them off with my club." The 
mystery was soon solved by the Thompson boys as 
part of the load wa« some fresh meat. The poor Ger- 
man was nearly scared to death when he found that he 
liad been fighting wolves all night. 

The village as it appeared about this time was 
nicely described by Edward F. Gay who prospected 
here in the fall of 1836 and settled with his family in 
1837. After detailing his attempt to reach Livings- 
ton Center as the village was then called, and losing 
the trail two or three times, he described his success 
in an address to the pioneer society in 1872, as fol- 
lows: "Though now becoming anxious to reach the 
Center I was doomed still to wander on the- verge. 
I was on the trail, though among brush, and meander- 
ing the lake. Beholding a light, hope revived, but 
it was again extinguished for before it was reached 
the light disappeared, for the very good reason that 
Mr. Moses Thompson and family had retired to bed. 
Not being willing to be thwarted in this, my second 
daj^'s attempt to reach Livingston Center, I hallooed 
for light under difficulties. The old gentleman soon 
put me on the right trail again, saying that after 
crossing a ravine and again rising the bluff I would 
behold the light at the Center, which had so often 
guided the lost and weary traveler. I found it as he 



32 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

had said, and soon beheld Livingston Center, in the 
Xjersou of that noble landlord and life- long hotel 
keeper, Amos Adams. One single frame building 
as a hotel, without a barn, together with three or 
four log houses, constituted Livingston Center. My 
horse was fastened to a small oak tree against which 
a log was lying, with troughs cut in the side to feed 
the grain. The only families, which 1 now recollect, 
then residing in Howell or vicinity, besides the 
Adams family, were Mr. McPherson, Watson G. 
Thomas, Mr. kSage and son, David Austin, Sardis 
Davis, Herman Bristol, and Moses Thompson. The 
single men were Lewis, Morris, and Edward Thomp- 
son, Mr. Critenden, Mr.Frisbee, Ely Barnard, John 
Russle and Conrad Woll.^' 

Imediately after settling here in the spring of 1837, 
Mr, Gay hunted out the remenant of F. J. B. Crane's 
stock of goods from the attic of the Eagle Tavern, 
and with about $1,600 worth of goods from New 
York» opened the pioneer store of the village which 
maintained an existence for any great length of time. 
His store building was the second frame building 
in the town, being preceded only by the Eagle Tavern. 
At various times in its existence this building was 
used for a store, lawyer's office, post office, shoe shop, 
place for holding meetings, minister's residence and 
family residence, and in its earlier history it often 
did duty for two or three of these purposes at once. 

The old building, modeled over, was for years the 




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i^pright of a tenant house on Sybley 8t., owned by J. 
1. VanDeusen and some of the material is now part 
of the newly erected tenant house of W. VV. Kenyon 
on the old site at the corner of Sybley and Kast streets, 
occupied by Glen Brown and family. 

Probably the third frame building to be erected in 
Howell was the school house. This building was 
erected on a lot donated to the village by F. J. B. 
Crane, for that purpose. Some provisions were made 
for it in the previous year but as Moses Thompson's 
saw mill was soon to be set in motion, the building 
was left until lumber could be secured from that 
source. It was occupied early in the summer, probably 
some time in June, and Miss Abigal Adams, daugh- 
ter of the landlord, was the first teaclier in a regular 
school building. The building was never satisfactory 
to the district and numerous resolutions to build 
new ones are found upon the records. It was finally 
sold in 1848, and a room rented for school purposes 
for several j^ears. This old building served as the 
frame part of the old Curtis foundry for some years. 
It has been occupied by Snedicor's poultry and egg 
business for several years past. The original site of 
the old building was about midway between Chris. 
Schaffer's cement residence and Bernard Walker's 
barn . 

The friends of Howell as the county seat of the 
new county, felt that quite a victory had been achieved 
when Judge Fletcher held the first term of court here, 



34 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

commencing November 8, 1837. It was held in the 
old school house which was used for that purpose for 
some time afterward, also for holding church services 
and other public meetings. 

Richard Fishbeck who came to Genoa with his fam- 
ily in 1835, moved to Howell the following year and 
opened the first shoe shop in the town. He continued 
in that business until his death in 1875. The business 
descended to his sons, S. G. and L. N. who are still 
conducting it under the firm name of Fishbeck Broth- 
ers, on the same site where their father started it in 
1836. Mr. Fishbeck built the third frame dwelling 
house in Howell, It is still standing on Walnut street 
near the Ann Arbor depot. Their old furniture yet 
remains there just as Mrs. Fishbeck left it, probably 
the only case of that kind now in the county. 

James White, the first cabinet maker in Howell, 
also arrived in 1836. 

In the spring of 1837, Esq. Adams arranged to 
build a log barn for his Eagle Tavern, which was 
raised in May of that year. Samuel Waddell, father of 
the late Andrew D. Waddell, was injured during the 
raising of this barn, so that he died from the result of 
these, injuries, on May 30, 1837, the first death in the 
township. 

The food of the pioneers in addition to what they 
raised on their farms, was largely venison and honey 
both of which could be had in abundance by hunting. 
Francis Monroe sr. used to laugh about how, in his 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 35 

vomiser years the pioneers used to flo(3k to eaehotli- 
er's houses to visit, if anyone had been to the outside 
world, that they might get a taste of salt pork, dried 
apples or other similar luxuries. Among the pioneer 
stories which C. G. Jewett remembers from his par- 
ents, is the fact that they brought with them when 
they came to Howell in 1837, a quantity of salt pork 
and that neighbors used to send in for a piece when 
anyone was sick and needed some little delicacy to 
tempt their appetite, Another early pioneer food was 
a flour made by grinding sweet acorns which had been 
gathered and dried, and it wasn't at all bad to eat 
either. 

With the organization of the state, county and 
township, each offered a bounty for killing wolves and 
several pioneers made that enterprise almost their en- 
tire business for a time, the $17 for the scalp of each, 
proving quite a fortune in those times. Prominent 
among these was Francis Monroe who earned quite a 
reputation in the winter of 1837, for a fight with a big 
black wolf which he had caught in his trap and in the 
killing of which he nearly lost his own life. 

The board of supervisors at its fall meeting in 1837 
submitted a proposition to the county to borrow 
$1,000 to build a jail, but it was voted down as was a 
similar proposition in 1838, and prisoners from this 
county were confined at Ann Arbor. 

On the 14th of April 1838, Rev, Thomas Baker 
of Highland, met at the village school house with 



36 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Silas bibble, Gardner Mason, Justin Durfee, Joseph 
A. Dibble, Sardis Davis, Sarah Field, Sarah Durfee, 
Lydia Austin and Hannah Austin all of whom held 
letters from or were members of Baptist churches 
in the east, and after relegious 'services, they pro- 
ceeded to plan for the organization of a Baptist church 
in Howell. Silas Dibble, Gardner Mason and Justin 
Durfee were appointed a committee to prepare Arti- 
cles of Faith and Practice and Church Covenant, This 
committee reported at a meeting held in the same place 
May 12, their report being adopted. Rev. Thomas 
Baker, the founder of the church, was called to the 
pastorate at this meeting, a position which he filled 
until the close of the year when he was succeeded by 
Rev. E, Mosher. It was arranged to call a council of 
recognition which met at the school house, June 21. 
It was organized by the choice of Rev. E. Weaver as 
Moderator, and A. Kemis, Clerk. The records of 
this council show a representation of four churches by 
delegates; Highland, E. Lee, J. Tenny; Hartland, A. 
Lamb; Walled Lake, Rev. E. Weaver, J. Coe, N. 
Daniels; Kensington, Rev. A. P. Mather, D. Seely, 
E. Cole, A. N. Kemis. 

The church records show the following names re- 
ceived by letter on that date, and organized into a 
regular Baptist church: Silas Dibble, Aaron Sickles, 
Fanny Dibble, Hannah Austin, Joseph Dibble, Justin 
Durfee, Rachel Dibble, Lydia Austin, Daniel Case, 
Anna Dibble, Sarah Durfee, Laura Monroe. The 











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HISTORY OF HOWELL 37 

usual service of recognition was held on the same day. 
The sermon was preached by Rev. Weaver, from 
Psalms xxvi, 8. The address to the church and hand 
of fellowship were given by Rev. Lamb. 

During its first year eleven were added to the church 
membership by letter. At the close of the second year 
the membership numbered thirty-two. Of the nine 
who joined during that year, six were by letter and 
three by profession of faith. The first person received 
by baptism was Harriet M. Sickles who was baptized 
April 14, 1839. During that year the church was 
attached to the Michigan Association. 

Hon. Milo L. Gay described the organization of 
the Presbyterian church as follows: **My first re- 
collections of attending meeting in the then new 
town date to a year and three months prior to the 
foundation of this church. In the spring of 1837, I 
remember following along after my father in a wind- 
ing path which led through the woods from the farm 
known as the Reed farm, down to the Center, then 
winding northward by another path through the woods 
to the Thompson log house on the bank of the pond, 
where meetings were held once in four weeks, by 
Elder Post who came on horseback, I think from 
Plymouth, Also in a fortnight thereafter we followed 
another trail westward to the small log house of James 
Sage, situated on the identical spot where William 
McPherson jr's. house now stands. There I think we 
occasionally listened to a Methodist preacher; and the 



38 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

particular impression there made upon my mind was 
the peculiar and quaint style of starting the tune by 
old Mr. Sage who, although himself a Universalist, 
consented to act in the capacity of choirister, and also 
to accommodate the neighbors with a place in which 
to hold meetings. Another impression was in regard 
to the peculiar bent position required to be maintained 
by the taller persons when standing, to prevent their 
heads coming in contact with the crossbeams above. 

The sixteenth and seventeenth days of June, 1838, 
are still fresh in my memory, as they were memorable 
days in the history of the little hamlet then known as 
Livingston Center. Those days fell on Saturday and 
Sunday and the meetings were held in the loft of a 
one-and-a-half story building which my father had 
recently erected for a store. The floor of the room 
above was of rough boards and the ceiling was noth- 
ing but the roof-boards and shingles, in close prox- 
imity to the heads of the adults; and the rough tama- 
rack rafters, with their knotty projections, were a 
constant reminder that all should humble themselves 
in the business in which they were about to engage. ^^ 

The main portion of the old building discribed by 
Mr. Gay, is now the upright of Mrs. Burbank's resi- 
dence. Some of it's material is in W. W. Kenyon's 
tenant house, as stated elsewhere- 

The business of the meeting referred to by Mr. Gay, 
waa the organization of the Presbyterian chuich by 
Rev. Henry Root. The following were the origonal 




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HISTORY OF HOWELL 39 

members: David H. Austin, Josiah P. Jewett, Horace 
Griffith, Arte mas Mahan, John T, Watson, George W, 
Jewett, Edward P. Gay, Price Morse, Andrew Riddle, 
William McPhersou, Charles Clark, Lueretia Jewett, 
Catherine Griffith, Polly Ann Mahan, Hila Mahan, 
Julia Mahan, Sarah Mahan, Harriet L. Watson, 
Anise P, Jewett, Clarissa L. (jray, Elvira Morse, 
Elizabeth MePherson, Margaret Thompson, Matilda 
Clark, Mary Clark, Three ruling elders were elected 
who also held the office of deacon. They were as fol- 
lows: For one year, George W. Jewett; for two years, 
John T. Watson; for three years, Edward F. Gay. 
The legal organization was effected on the 7th of July 
following. Meetings were held in the school house 
during the following year. 

Garrett S. Lake having worked at brickmaking in 
New York, commenced the manufacture of brick near 
Fleming, in 1838, and it is from his yard that the 
brick in many of the oldest chimneys in town came. 
About this time Amos Adams ceased to be proprietor 
of the Eagle tavern, it having been sold. He formed 
a partnership with Joseph Porter and built a saw mill 
on the Shiawassee river on section 27. This site was 
afterwart's used for a carding mill and cloth factory 
bv Joseph M. Gilbert, Soon after starting his saw 
mill Mr. Adams built a hotel on the south side of the 
Grand River road, west of the river. This building 
was afterwards moved across the road and was torn 
down about twenty years ago. Among a large col- 



40 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

lection of pioneer relics owned by Fishbeck Brothers, 
is the old dinner bell brought from New York and 
used by Mr. Adams at the Eagle tavern. 

The first horses, cattle, hogs and fowls came with 
the earliest pioneers but the first sheep were brought 
here in 1838, by Ira Bray ton. 

The "wild cat banking" scheme of those early days 
affected Howell with the other towns of the young 
state. Messrs. Gay and Whipple enjoyed a very large 
trade. Money was plenty and everyone bought all 
they wanted. Sometime afterward, in describing these 
times, Mr. Gay said: "I found it easy to take $100 
a day, but I was not so easily sure that the wild cat 
money would be worth one dollar the next morning 
and was quite sure it would not be when Lewis 
Thompson arrived with our weekly horseback mail." 
At one time Mr. Gay paid $40 to a hotel ))etween 
here and Detroit,. The amount of the bill in good 
money would have been $2.50. A proposition was 
made to organize a wildcat bank in Howell and the 
initiatory steps were taken but before it was perfected 
those institutions in other places began to crack and 
Howell therefore escaped. 

In the fall of 1836 William Riddle was taken very 
sick and lay apparently at the point of death? for some 
time. This led the settlers to think of a burying 
ground and land was given for the purpose by Alex- 
ander Fraser, John D. Pinckney and Moses Thompson. 
It was located near the south-east part of the lake. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 41 

Mr. Riddle recovered and the first burial there was 
that of Miss Davis, a sister of Mrs, Johnathau Austin . 
The site of this burying ground was never satisfactory 
to the people. After it had been used for some time 
it was abandoned and a new burying ground was laid 
out where the Ann Arbor railroad crosses Bernard 
street. The swing of the town to the east by the lo- 
cation of Court House square, sent the settlement 
clear around this burying ground. When it vv^as 
tilled a new one was secured on the bank of Thomp- 
son's lake. 

In moving from the fir.st burying ground to the 
second, everyone did the work for their own friends. 
The ground was soon dug over in such a way that it 
was impossible to find several graves. The oldest 
daughters of Rev. and Mrs. A. L. Crittenden and Mr. 
and 3[rs. Richard Fishbeck were among those which 
could never be located to transfer. 

The first lawyer Wellington A. Glover, settled in 
Howell in 1838 and opened his office in the store of 
E. F. Gay. He was an ardent Whisr and that fact no 
doubt injured his practice somewhat in this stronghold 
of Democracy, but it helped him to the office of post- 
master to which he was appointed in 1841. In a few 
weeks after the lawyer came a doctor in the person of 
Dr. Gardner ^Vheeler who at once commenced the 
practice of his profession and continued to do so in 
this vicinity for more than twenty years, during which 
time he was generally respected by all who knew him. 



42 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

His office which stood where the Sabin block now 
stands, was moved in later years and is now a part of 
the first house south of Parshall's mill. His residence 
which occupied the site of M. J. McPherson's home, 
was moved up the Byron road and is now owned by 
John Owen. 

The first land located in Howell township was the 
east half of the south-west quarter of section 27, on 
May 20, 1833. It was where the Grand River road 
crosses the Shiawassee river. Amos Adams flowed 
this land when he erected his saw mill a little further 
down the stream, m\C considerable of it was in a mill 
pond f( r years. 

The old home of John D. Pinckney which was torn 
down to grade Library park, was built about this time 
and was one of the most pretentious houses in the 
village. It had a brick oven built in the side of the 
fireplace, a decided luxury which Mrs. Pinckney u§ed 
to take great delight in loaning to her neighbors who 
iiad no such convenience, to use for their baking. 

When Mr. Pincknev's family were coming to Howell 
they were given some apples where they stopped at 
Ann Arbar. The seeds were planted and produced 
the old apple trees which were cut when the house 
was torn down. While not in this township, Wm. C. 
Rumsey's saw mill in Oceola, furnished so much of 
the lumber in Howell buildings that it should be 
noticed. 

There has been considerable change too in the topo- 




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HISTORY OF HOWELL 43 

graphy of the village. C. <t. Jewett remembers sneak- 
ing around a pond for ducks, about where William 
Whitacre is now building a home, and many of the 
boys and girls of other days remember a favorite 
place to slide down hill a little waj^s this side of the 
P. M. depot, which has all been graded away. 

In these early days pigeons were so thick that it 
was no fun to hunt them. A big tree which stands in 
Mrs. Doliie Butler^s yard was one of their favorite 
haunts. If anyone wanted a mess of pigeons to eat 
they would go over there and shoot what they wanted 
and leave the rfst 

There are so many things of interest for this period 
ol our history that we are loth to leave them. It would 
be wrong however for us to pass to a new period with- 
out a word of that sturdy class who settled here to 
create homes, the real foundation of any good civil- 
ization, but who, while backing every worthy enter- 
prise, were more quiet in their way of doing things. 
Two representatives of this class will always be re- 
membered for their honesty of purpose and solid worth 
They were Rev. E. E. Gregory and William Smith. 

During previous years the scanty crops which the 
pioneers had been able to gather had only sufficed to 
keep them during the severest of privations. By 
the harvest of 1838 sufficient land had been put to 
crops to secure enough and to spare and the ingather- 
ing that season marked an advance of no little import- 
ance. 




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HISTORY OF HOWELL 45 

was a house built by Alexander Fi*aser for a residence 
to which Sliter added a log and a frame addition and 
opened a hotel. To this hotel and its proprietor is 
largely due the reputation for fun which Howell soon 
gained abroad. 

In an impromptu address to the pioneer society in 
1873 Judge Turner told this story: In these early 
days court week was the great occasion of the new 
county Everybody was at court » The crowd that 
gathered at Sliter' s at such time was far beyond all 
his limited sleeping accomodations. His bar room 
floor was literally covered with jurors and witnesses 
during the nights. 

One night when the floor was about as densely pop- 
ulated as it could be with sleepers two lawyers named 
George Danforth and Olney Hawkins from Ann 
Arbor, crawled out the back way, and by inducements 
in the shape of Indian corn, succeeded in calling two 
large hogs to the bar room door and getting them in- 
side. Then they started a bulldog Slitter owned after 
the hogs and quietly but swiftly retired to their beds 
in a rear passage. If Slitter's dog ever had any fail- 
ings they could not be urged against his persistency 
as a biter. The scene that followed would baffle dis- 
cription. The squealing of a captured hog is always 
very thrilling but when dinned into the ears of sleep- 
ing men at the dead of night, and it is accompanied 
by vicious kicks and thumps on their bodies it is 
alarming. 



46 HISTORT OF HOWELL 

The condition of affairs in these days is best describ- 
ed by two gentlemen who were here at the time. We 
quote from Judge Turner and his son above quoted. 

"Men from the east who had no design of settling 
here, staged it out from Detroit, or over from Dexter, 
to spend a few days in laughing. One man I know, 
who resided in the city of New York, who has since 
told me that he was accustomed to travel through al- 
most ev^ery town in the United States large enough to 
hold a meeting house without finding one that could 
equal Howell for fun. There was an abandonment 
about it, too, that gave it zest; men laughed in hearty 
deep-chested tones here in the back woods, and as- 
sembled to see the perpetration of a practical joke in 
more numerical strength than they did at a funeral. 
Nobody was in a hurry, no one was careful or 
troubled about many things; we had actors and an 
audience. Men forsook what little business they had 
for simple sport. One man I knew — Elijah Coffren, 
a carpenter and joiner by trade, — who would come 
down from the roof of a promising job to join in a 
little hilarity, and not be able to get away from it so 
that he fould return in a month. The super-urgent 
business was fun; that was a complete plea to any 
declaration for damages on account of any delay in 
work. Even shows which were supposed to carry 
about with them a sort of stereotyped humor which 
can make an hour passable, were tame concerns here 
in those early days and it was two to one that some- 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 47 

thing laughable would happen to them before they 
left the place. Subjects of mesmerism underwent 
copious inundations of cold water; the magic lantern 
cuirass suddenly grew cloudy with ink, and the return 
of pewter and tin sixpences astonished the showman 
when he counted up after the performance. Apropos 
of this there were at an early day, organized in How- 
ell, companies of squirters who were armed with pint 
and quart squiit guns with which they deluged all 
bibulous individuals. A man could get on a drunk 
in the daytime but he had need to watch the sun very 
closely and not be seen around after nightfall. 

*'Some of the subjects of this sport were somewhat 
i^gly; for instance Levi Bristol, a square fighter, a man 
who would have been known as an athlete among the 
Thebians, but who usually got cornered when he came 
to town. He was emphatically an ugly customer and 
he asserted in all sorts of forcible inelegance, that 
'the first man who squirts any water onto me' 11 get 
his head knocked off. ' I remember as though it were 
but yesterday, his standing one afternoon nearly in 
front of Kellogg & Austin's store — present location 
— and he looked like one of Dumas' 'colossal wrest 
lers' in the Olympic ring, as he dared the whole town 
to furnish him an antagonist who should come bearing 
a tin squirt gun . Boy as I was I had read the story 
of Goliath of Gath, and when I saw a single person, a 
stripling in size emerge from a building on the street 
with a quart squirt gun at 'present arms' and advance 



48 HISTORY OF HOWELL' 

toward this gawk, I must confess I thought I coukl^ 
see a complete rapetition of that historical incident. 
I do not know that I was certain then or that I am 
entirely positive now, who the lad was who went out 
against him, but he had a wonderful similarity to one 
Leander Smith, who once lived in Howell, so similar 
as to puzzle people as to the question of identity. A 
fine stream from the youth's gun struck Bristol fair 
and square in. the eyes •' Bristol plunged down like a 
kingfisher, and whirled himself along in knots and 
spirals through the dirt of the street uttering the 
most abominable yells that eyer issued from human 
lips. He did not seem to know where he was going 
or to have the least care. He burst through the front 
door of Elisha Hazard's grocery, knocking over a 
counter and roaring like a bull of Bashan! VV^ell, 
whisky and pepper- sauce in equal parts is not a very 
pleasant eye lotion, and Bristol's visits to Howell be- 
came more and more infrequent and of a less turbulent 
character. 

''The general store was a rendezvous and its mam- 
moth stove became somewhat of a social shrine. There 
the people gathered and there they brought out their 
jewels, like the toads, after dark. These jewels served 
our purpose then, let us hope that they may not be 
entirely unregarded now." 

"There lived here, a good many years ago, a man 
who was familiarly called 'Old Cuff Simons,' of genial 
good-nature, but he was prone to take to much liquor. 



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HISTORY OF HOWELL 49 

The boys, on certain occasions of his intoxication, 
would deluge the old man with water to an extent 
which would satisfy any reasonable Thompsonian. 
One evening they were engaged in this pastime in a 
hotel kept by George Curtis in this place, and an el- 
derly stranger, who happened to be present thinking 
it to be an imposition on the old man, strongly re- 
monstrated with the boys against what he termed 
*such shameful conduct.' But what was his surprise 
when Simons turned upon him with open jack-knife 
saying: *You' re a transient person (hie) mind your 
own (hie) business; the boys are going (hie) to have 
their sport.' In New York or Boston such inter-, 
ference might have been regarded as timely by a be- 
sieged drinker, but at Livingston Center it was re- 
sented by the victim with far more warmth than by 
his persecutors" 

One day the boys secured an old crate in which 
dishes had been shipped, and got it ready for Simons 
when he should get on a drunk. It wasn't a great 
while before they had use for their cage. ''Old Cuff" 
thought the joke a good one when they coaxed him 
out on the public square and got him into the trap. 
He roared and bellowed for awhile, imitating a wild 
animal. After awhile he tired of it and wanted to 
get out but the old crate was fixed up too strong and 
it was half a day or more before he was released. 

About 1840 the land was full of prospectors and ad- 
venturers and these numerous hotels did a much larger 



50 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

business Y^roportionateiy than they would today. 
Although Sliter's was some distance from toAvn and a 
long stretch of corduroy road lay between the villagi^ 
and the hotel it was a popular resort. It came to be 
understood however that the man who stopped there 
must expect to become the victim of some joke before 
he left and few got away without an experience more 
or less funny. 

Sliter afterwards settled in Deerfield where his wife 
died. After that he went to Kent county and started 
another hotel but lost it in a trade for land which only 
existed in the mind of the speculator who beat him 
out of his property. 

Allen C. Weston started sr»me kind of a stage line 
between Howell and Detroit, in 1838 and in 1840 be- 
gan the eri'ctlon of a hotel. Before it was finished 
his eyesight failed and be traded the property and 
stage line to Benjamine Spring for land on section 35. 
Spring completed the hotel ami built a new stage 
which was probably ai- odd as the odd character who 
ran the line. It was painted red and named the "Red 
Bird.'' It was not only a vehicle for land traffic but 
carried passengers safely through the rapids near 
Detroit where it served as a boat. 

Spring was a worthy contemporary of Sliter. It is 
said that he had a boarder who was more prompt to 
meals than he was to pa.y his bill. Spring met him 
at the dining room door as he was coming out with 
several boarders one day, and handing him some 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 51 

liiotiey, told him "for pity sakes when you come next 
time, stop and pay for what you eat." Spring ac- 
knowledged himself beaten when the boarder took his 
cash and calling the crowd with him, went over to the 
bar of another hotel and set-em-up. 

Spring was a great admirer of General Cass. The 
old vetran stopped at his hotel when campaigning here 
and Spring went into the dining room himself to see 
that his noted guest was properly eared for. Judge of 
his consternation when he saw the general paJ a hair 
out of the butter. But Spring was not to be daunted 
and called out to his wife, in a voice which could be 
heard all over the room, telling her to go over V^ 
Gay's store and see if she couldn't find some butter in 
which the hairs were better rotted. 

One summer night in 1844, when a party of men 
were busy with cards at Spring's hotel their bottle 
was left so near the window that some boys reached 
in and stole it, The effect upon them was as a live 
coal which had roused Edward F. Gay who had de- 
decided to try and better the condition by building a 
temperance hotel. Accordingly he talked the matter 
over with his neighbors and decided to buy the lot 
where the Goodnow block now stands, at the corner 
of Grand River and Division streets. Unfortunately 
he told some of his neighbors of this decision and the 
opposition attemped to head off his temperance move- 
ment. Hezekiah Gates hurried off to Detroit the day 
before Gay was to go, and bought the lot. As soon as 



52 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

he returned he began arranging for the erection of a 
hotel which afterwards became Union Hall and was 
prominent here for years. 

Mr. Gay learned of the Gates scheme just before 
leaving for Detroit, and selected another site which 
was the lot upon which stands the buildings occupied 
by the First State and Savings Bank and Barron tK: 
Wine's drug store. This hotel was the first brick 
building in Howell and the first temperance hotel for 
miles around. The brick for its erection were burned 
on Mr. Gay's own farm in Marion, now occupied dy 
Eastman's dairy farm, Z. M. Drew furnished the 
lime from a kiln he had established near the Marion 
town line. Hon. C. C. Ellsworth afterwards a promi- 
nent lawyer here, was the first landlord, Mr. Ells- 
worth surely was Daniel like for he opened the hotel 
with a flag fiying tcxthe breeze upon which was in- 
scribed "Liberty and Temperance." Mr. Gay kept 
the hotel for many years and then sold it. It was 
purchased after a while by Mr. Pebbles and its name 
changed to Livingston Hotel. It remained a temper- 
ance hotel until torn down when John Weimeister 
built the present block in 1869. 

Superstitious ones were not at all surprised at the 
fate of Hezekiah Gates and his project. The building 
of his hotel proved too great a project for his financial 
resources. Before its completion he was obliged to 
go into bankruptcy. The property was acquired by 
Taylor & McPherson and changed hands a number of 



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HISTORY OF HOWELL 53 

times until 1871, when Union Hall as it was then 
known, was burned. 

Shaft's hotel which was built a little later than the 
others mentioned, really belonged to this period. It's 
first owner was William C. Shaft who was Spring's 
opposition in the stage business to Detroit. It 
changed hands several times until 1865, when it was 
purchased by Benjamine H. Rubert who added a 
third story and ran the house successfully until his 
death. His son Seth B. Rubert ran the house a num- 
ber of years. It has changed hands two or three 
times since Mr. Rubert died but still bears his name. 



CHAPTER V. 
Kot All Fun 

In 1838 the Legislature created a board of county 
commissioners. F)Ut little is left of their records. 
Emery Beal, Charles P. Bush and Orman Holmes 
constituted the board. 

The County Commissioners ceased to have author- 
ity after the Legislature of 1842 and the board of 
supervisors was reorganized. It has met regularly 
ever since that time. 

Judge Kingsley 8. Bingham the first Probate Judge 
of this counly, liad no official business to perfonu. 
His office was at his residence in Green Oak. The 
next. Judge James W. KStanbury, lived in Pinckney 
and held his court there. The fi|st will he admitted to 
probate was that of James SageVthe first white settler 
of Howell, who died June 29, 1839. His will was 
dated January 15 of that year and was officially wit- 
nessed by Dr. Wellington A. Glover and wdfe and G. 
J. Pinckney. Mr. Sage's son-in-law, Joseph H. 
Pinckiiey. was appointed executor. The legatees 
were Mrs. Sage wi'iow i>f the deceased, and lier 
children, George T. Sage, James K. Sage, Chester A. 
Sage, Mary A. W. Pinckney and Hannah A. Walker. 
The date of record is quite l^adly faded but it was 
sometime in July, 1839. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 55 

Judge (xoorge W. Kneelaud who was elected in 
1840, moved the office to HowelL His first busiii'^ss 
was on February 8, 1841, when letters of administra- 
tion were g-i'^nted in the estate of Josiah P. Jewel t. 

The Presbyterian society held most of its meetings 
in the village school house, as did both the other de- 
nominations, until the year 1840. In 1839 the society 
began the erection of a church building which was 
completed the following year. This church originally 
stood a little north of the Central School Hous^ square 
and fronted to the south, amidst what was then a 
growth of underbrush. The site proved to be a bad 
one as in muddy weather, the church was almost inac- 
cessible, and it was moved to nearly the present site 
of the Knapp shops. Sometime afterward the society 
becauie involved by too extensive repairs to the build- 
ing and it was sold at forced sale, to the highest bid- 
der. It was afterwards moved to Division street and 
occupied hy Staley's wagon shop for a good many 
years. Its old ruins, about twenty feet from the first 
school house, still remain. 

When the church was first organized it adopted the 
union plan but on September 21, 1839, by resolution 
it became Presbyterian and remained so until July 29, 
1843 when it changed to Congregational, but returned 
to Presbyterian October 27, 1845 and has been in that 
connection since that date. 

As before referred to there was a determined effort 
made to move the county site to Brighton and the 



56 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

matter was brought before the Legislature in 1837 
but was defeated by the determined efforts of F. J. li 
Crane and others. This agitation however had the 
effect to defeat all projects to build suriable buildings 
when presented to the people as heretofore detailed 
in these pages. The earliest officers who had office 
in Howell, all made their offices at the Eagle Tavern. 
P. J. B. Crane built a one story building of two 
rooms near the site of Mrs. Amos T. Sladei's present 
residence, in 1837 and the county offices were soon 
moved to it, the building being rented by the county. 
It was afterwards purchased as will be noted further 
on. In 1842, the board of supervisors contracted 
with Benjamin Spring, for the use of his ball room in 
his hotel in which to hold conrt, for fifteen dollars, 
he to furnish wood. This arrangement only lasted 
for a short time and the Presbyterian church was 
leased for holding eouit and all county meetings. 
The rental was twenty five dollars per term of couit 
for a time, and later, forty dollars per year, for all 
county purposes. This latter arrangement continued 
for about three years, until what is now known as 
the old court house, was completed In the spring of 
1845, a vote was taken at each town meeting, to build 
a court house and jail, and the board of Supervisors 
elected a building committee who advertised for the 
reeieval of plans and spec ifications. P>y the time the 
board met in October of that year, they had taken le- 
gal counsel and decided that they had not a legal 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 57 

right to levy a tax for the same and so resolved. 
In the following year the Legislature passed an en- 
abling aet and the board at a special meeting in June, 

1846, arranged for the building of the old court house. 
After some delay, the contract was let to Emos B. 
Taylor who completed the building late in the fall of 

1847. The total cost including extras, was $5,928. 
By a resolution of the Board, the belfry was erected 

upon condition that the people of Howell should raise 
a suitable sum to purchase a bell. When the old 
court house was torn down, the ])ell was saved by 
Fishbeck Brothers and others. It has since been 
properly mounted and stands just inside the bar rail- 
ing in the circuit court room. 

When it came to building the court house, the loca- 
tion became an important issue. No one had cared 
particularly where the commissioners should locate the 
(bounty site except that it should be in Howell but 
when the buildings were to be commenced that was 
another question and especially so to Peter Cowdry 
and Edward Thompson who had platted additions to 
the village and were sure that if thej' could get the 
buildings located upon their land it would prove a 
boom to their additions. After a proper effort they 
succeeded in so doing and the county site was changed 
from the old public square south of Grand River street 
and west of Walnut street, to its present location, the 
front part of the present square being donated to the 
county by Mr. Cowdry and the north half by Mr. 



58 HISTORIC OF HOWELL 

Thompson, the land presented including the streets 
clear around the present square. The lots of the 
orififinal portion of town had many of them been pur- 
chased by speculators who were non residents and this 
fact with the moving of the county site, had much U^ 
do with changiner the principal part of the town to tlie 
new additions. With the procuring of the new site, 
the old county office building was moved to the new 
square in a position about midway between the pres- 
ent front of the court house and the west side of the 
square. When the brick office building was ere(*,ted 
on that site it was moved to the north side of tlie 
square and was later sold to William B. KSmith who 
moved it a block east, on the south side of Graud 
River street west of Bernard street, where it became 
part of the residence recently purchased by Os<'ar 
Hesse. It has been rebuilt several times. Lnmedi- 
ately after the court house was finished the board of 
supervisors passed a resolution to allow all religions 
denominations to hold services there and the proposi- 
tion was accepted by all but the Presbyterians wlio 
already had their church built. 

The jail and sheriff's residence occupied the grou])d 
floor of the old court house and the court an<l jury 
rooms the second story. 

In 1849 a contract was let to George W. and Fred- 
erick J. Lee to build an office building west of the 
court house, on the site occupied by the wooden office 
building. This building was completed that year muJ 



HISTORY OF HOVv^ELL ryj 

accepted by the supervisors at their January meeting. 
It cost $545.20. This linilding served its purpose un- 
til 1873 when it was demolished and a better one took 
its place for the County Clerk and Register of Deeds 
oifices. 

lu 1853 a building was erected for use of the Judge 
of Probate and County Treasurer, east of the court 
house, and similar to the one then standing west of 
the court house, whichbecame County Clerk and Regis- 
ter of Deeds offices after this building was completed. 

When the square was cleared to make room for the 
new court house, much of the material in the three 
luiildings went into the walls of the present court house. 

Rail roads v/ere a big thing in those days as well as 
now and about this time a line was projected from 
Detroit to Kensington, thence to Howell and thenec 
to Shiwassee village, a line which would scarcely be 
urged as exceedingly promising today. 

As before referred to a cemetery was located near 
the southeast part of the lake Init the site was not en- 
tirely satisfactory to all and another was located nearer 
town but this proved no more satisfactory than the 
other. The matter was finaly settled by the purchase 
of the old cemetery, of Edward Thompson in 1840. 
The first burial was that of Henry Wheeler a young 
man wdio was just entering manhood. The site of the 
old cemetry is now part of the Toledo Ann Ar})or and 
North Michigan Railway grounds wh^re they are 
crossed by Barnard street and run a little east of the 



CO HISTORl OF HOWELL 

street where S. B. Rubert's lumber and coal yard is 
now located. 

About this time or a little before, the village ac- 
quired its first resident pastor. Rev. Henry Root 
who had been employed by the Presbyterian church, 
moved to Howell as its pioneer in that profession. 
The people of this county were of a literary taste and 
in 1813 organized a Union Lyceum which became very 
popular in those early days. 

About this time the Fleming post office was estab- 
lished. J. W. Smith was its first postmaster and the 
office was located in his residence which stood nearly 
opposite to the present farm residence of Frank He- 
cox, on the Grand River road. It was afterwards 
moved to six corners where it was maintained until 
some time after free rural delivery was established. 

The Marr buring ground was also established in the 
early '40s. 

The old general training days were seasons of rev- 
elry more or less important from the first, but their 
amount in this county were of a comparatively small 
importance before 1843, As far back as the days of 
Amos Adams there were some things accomplished in 
this line and that gentleman painted a flag for use on 
these occasions, which is still in existence, a treasured 
relic in the home of George W. Monroe. In 1843 a 
i^egiment was organized in this county with Col. Tim- 
othy R. Allison of Pinckney, in command. By an 
order dated Feb. 7, 1843, he divided the county into 
company beats, Handy and Howell being assigned to 



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HISTORY OF HOWELL 61 

one beat. The company from this beat was compar- 
atively well organized with Ralph Fowler of Fowler- 
ville, as captain. The troops were mustered in on 
old publico squar(^, l)ut a portion of the forty sold to 
M. •]. and Alexander McPherson, by Mrs. A. L. Crit- 
tenden soon after her husband's death was prepared 
for trainings purposes. The general poor success of 
trainings of this character, to secure the desired re- 
sults, caused the repeal of the law soon after the above 
date and ended all extensive efforts of that character 
in Howell. 

The early pioneers v/ere patriots as strong as many 
who have <!ome after them. The first Fourth of July 
celebration in this city Avas held under temperance 
auspices, in 1844, in the grove where the Presbyterian 
church now stands. No attempt was made at fire- 
works or other evening demonstration. 

Manufacturing in a pioneer way, took quite a boom 
about this time. Andrew L. Hill opened a wagon 
shop in 1842. Mr. Hill made the first cutter in town 
for Philander Glover. It was afterwards purchased 
by Judge Turner who located here in 1840. In 1846 
W. K. Meivin and James Lawther opened the "Ar- 
eade shops" and put up the building which years 
after, was built over into the Commercial Hotel. In 
] 844, Hickey and Galloway erected a foundry on the 
site ofMrs, L. V. D. Cook's residence south of the 
tunnel. They not only manufactured all kinds of 
agricultural implements, but all kinds of stoves, ket- 
tles, etc. The shops were successively owned by 



62 HISTORT OF HOWELL 

Lemuel Spooner and Edward Thompson, W. O. Archer 
and lastly by Abig^al W. Smith and Dexter Fil- 
kins, They were burned while the latter gentlemen 
owned them. Dr. Z. H. Marsh settled here in 184-f . 

The shores of time in this vicinity are lined with 
wrecks of select schools and other private educational 
institutions. The earliest of these was by Theodore 
Bridg-eman who opened his Howell Select School in 
1845, in tlie old Presbyterian church. The school 
lived only a little while and died in time to make room 
for the Clasical Select School which was started in 
December of that year by Rev. G. F. McEwen, but 
this enterprise soon kept company with its predecessor. 
Mrs. Mariah L. Charles was the next and her select 
school was quite an institution in the summer of 1846. 

The Howell Academy was opened April 1, 1846, and 
promised to be quite an institution but the promises 
were never realized. The failure of the academy led 
to the organization of a stock company of $10,000, com- 
posed of Josiah Turner. F. C. Whipple, Elijah F. Burt, 
Alvan Isbell, Gardner Wheeler, George W. Lee, 
John Kenyon Jr., Almon Whipple and Edward E. 
Gregory. This firm never did anything beyond the 
procure m.ent of its charter. 

The old frame school house proved entirely inade- 
quate for the growth of the town and early in the 
forties agitation for a new one })egan to grow. An 
appropriation for a new building was made in 3 845, 
but was reconsidered. A fight between sections nortli 
and south of Grand River street was fully develcped 



HLSTORY OF HOWELL 63 

and lasted several \eais. The north side was never 
strong enough to secure the location although they 
managed to secure south-siders enough to change 
every location decided upon from 1845 to 1849, and 
kept the ball rolling from the old public square, the 
pi-esent site (^t the M. E. Church, and others, until its 
iinal location on the present site of the central scoool 
building, Deoember 15, 1848. The question of loca- 
tion would no d(*ubt have continued much longer had 
not a resolution been passed in September, 1848, in- 
structing the district board to sell the school house 
which they did and rented rooms in the Stage House 
for school ])urposes, -John Dickson being employed to 
teach there. The first proposition was to build a two 
story brick school house, thirty-eight by forty- eight 
feet in size i)ut a resolntion to this effect created con- 
siderable opposition as the proposition to build a 
"castle" The size was changed to twenty-six by 
thirty-six feet and the building built for $10,000, by 
Elijah Coifren. Willis Wills was tho first teacher 
in the uew building. 

In 1849, a dissolution arose in the Presbyterian 
church and Charles Clark, Mrs, Mariah Clark, 
Zebulon M. Drew, Edward F. Gay, Mis. Clarssa L. 
Gay, Benjamine W. Cardell and wife drew out of 
that church and organized a Congregational church. 

The Bible society w^a« organized in 1842 and did 
considerable work until 1846. A new society w^as 
organized in 1849 which has been allowed to lapse al- 



64 HISTORT OF HOWELL 

though a small stock of Bibles still remained in the 
care of J. L. Pettibone Esq. until his health failed a 
few years ago. 

About this time the prevailing epidemic of fun mak- 
ing took a setback. The wife of a blacksmith named 
Rorabacher died. Her bereaved husband failed to 
wait a sufficient time after her funeral, to suit his 
neighbors ideas of propriety, before he married his 
second wife. One result of this condition of affairs 
was the arrangement for a regular old fashioned 
horning. The late Dr. Huntington who was always, 
ready for fun was solicited to captain the horning 
party but he declined the honor and decided to pre- 
sent a counter attraction. Accordingly he arranged 
with a couple of confederates and the three crawled 
up near Rorabacher' s house unobserved by its oc- 
cupants who were all unconscious of what awaited 
them. In time the horning party arrived, led by 
Benjamin Spring who was literally covered with sleigh- 
bells. As he approached at the head of his crowd, 
the doctor and his party opened upon them with 
double barrelled shot guns. Spring cut and run, nor 
would he go back. Some little noise was started how- 
ever, but word came from the house that the bride 
had been scared into hysterics and the doctor had a 
patient on his hands. It took very little coaxing to 
send the crowd away for the joke was so badly on 
Spring because of his scare, that everyone pulled him 
back to his hotel to liquor up at his expense. The 




Presbyterian Church 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 65 

whole thing figured out so hard against him that he 
was never anxious to lead again in anything of that 
kind and as Sliter moved to Deerfield the two leaders 
were out of it and things quited down a bit. 

There were great tracts of land all around, which 
were unfenced and cattle were allowed to run at large 
during the days. Occasionally one would come up 
missing and the theory usually was that it had wan- 
dered into some of the marshes and mired out of sight. 
Johnathan Austin lost a cow and after awhile, gave 
it up as lost. Some months later a neighbor told him 
that he had seen his cow pasturing on the public 
square. Mr. Austin went to the square and finding a 
cow which looked )ike bis, drove her home. Then Z. 
M, Drew's cow was reported lost. In time it was re- 
ported to Mr. i)re\v that Johnathan Austin had his 
cow and he w^ent to claim it. Both men were sure 
the cow was theirs and a law suit was the result. 
Both were leading members of the Presbyterian church 
and there was quite a little row kicked up in church 
circles over the matter. The trial created no end of 
interest. Both sides presented leading citizens who 
positively identified the cow and everything looked like 
an even strength for both sides of the case. Shortly 
before time for adjournment for supper, Dr. Hunting- 
ton who was one of the jurors casually asked witness- 
es on both sides as to the milking qualities. Austin's 
witnesses agreed that his cow was a hard milker, while 
Drew's witnesses testified that his cow was a very 



66 HISTOET OF HOWELL 

easy milker. The case went to the jury in the even- 
ing and they returned a verdict in a few minutes, 
unanimous for Drew. During; the intermission the 
doctor quietly went and milked the cow. As soon as 
they reached the jury room he told his companions 
what he had done. The fact that she was an easy 
milker settled the case. In those early days however, 
it didn't settle the row. 

Another case about that time will remain a standing 
joke of the county as long as the pioneers remain. A 
man had been arrested for stealing and was taken into 
Circuit Court where he stated that he had no money 
and Attorney Hawkins was appointed to defend him, 
Mr, Hawkins told the court that he did not want to 
go to trial without talking with his client and was 
allowed to go into a room alone with him. He is said 
to have asked the fellow if he was guilty and was an- 
swered that he was. To his enquiry as to whether 
they could prove it his client said that he guessed that 
they could for they found the stolen property with him. 
Hawkins asked him how nuieh money he had and took 
half of it. He then pointed to a window and told the 
prisoner to "git." He "got" and Hawkins went off 
over town. After awhile the sheriff hunted him up 
and told him the judge wanted to see him. Hawkins 
is said to have sauntered leisurely into the court room. 
When he entered alone the judge enquired where the 
prisoner was. Mr. Hawkins replied courteously that 
he was not the prisoner's keeper and finally said that 



HISTORT OF HOWELL 67 

the last he saw of him he went through a window. 
The judge hurried officers after him but he was free. 

Another law suit which is still told of by the old 
citizens was one in which Ira Brayton was defendant. 
He had become indebted to one of the early pioneers 
in the sum of twenty dollars and had given a mortgage 
on three fine yokes of cattle worth several times that 
amount, but was not able to raise the money and his 
creditor expected to take the cattle. So sure was he 
of securing them that he solicited jobs of "breaking 
up" new land expecting to do the work with these 
cattle. Ezra Frisbee finally decided to help Mr. Bray- 
ton out. Constable Durfee who was long remembered 
because he always went barefooted, was the officer in 
the case and learned of Mr.* Frisbee' s intentions. As 
soon as the bidding reached the amount of the debt 
and costs, he struck the cattle off to Mr. Frisbee who 
left them with Mr. Brayton. In his efforts to save 
himself Mr. Brayton had acquired a judgement which 
another man held against his creditor, and had placed 
this with Constable Durfee for collection. As soon as 
Mr. Frisbee placed the money on a table to pay for 
the cattle the constable levied upon enough to satisfy 
this judgment and the grinding creditor got out of the 
whole transaction considerably in the hole. 

While most of the pioneers made the best of things 
and put up with privations, there were those who 
missed the luxuries of the outside world. Among 
these was a man named Betts who settled in the north 



68 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

west part of town in the early forties. He came from 
New York and was alwajs lamenting the fact that 
he could not enjoj' what his neighbors put up with. 
One morning it was found that he had taken poison 
and was dead. This was the first experience of this 
character and was quite a shock for the pioneer 
settlers. 

Dr. Gardner Wheeler's location in Howell as the 
first physician here was noted in a previous chapter. 
He was followed in 3 839, by Dr, Charles A. Jeffries 
who remained here until 1843 when he moved to 
Washtenaw county. Dr. William Huntington suc- 
ceeded to his practice when he left Howell and re- 
mained here until his death. His son Dr. Wm. V. 
Huntington practiced with "his father for many years 
and succeeded to the extensive practice which he built. 

Dr. Nichols Hard located here in 18-i-l and remained 
for two years. Dr. E. F. Olds moved here in 1843 
but never practiced a great deal. He was a fine pen- 
man and taught writing school while here. Dr. 
William Dowlman came here from England in 1846, 
but never practiced a great deal. He was a Methodist 
local preacher and did considerabl<^ work in that line 
in the western part of the (ouuty. He served as 
regular pastor at Stevenson in the upper peninsula 
in the latter '70s and as far as known never came 
back here. Dr. Thomas R. Spence located in Howell 
in 1846 and had an extensive practice for about six 
years, when he moved to Detroit. Dr. Andrew 



HISTORY OF HOWELL m 

Blanck settled here in 1848 and held a leading pla^'e 
in his profession for a good many years. Dr. VVm. L. 
Wells settled in Howell in 1849 and enjoyed a ven 
extensive practice for the rest of his life. 

Attorney Wellington A Glover, Howell's tii'st law- 
yer, was about two years alone in his profession here 
and then Josiah W, Turner came in 1840. Soon 
after settling lierft. Judge Turner was appointed 
master in chancery. He also became deputy county 
clerk under Jesse Mapes who held the office at that 
time, and did the Avork of the otfiiie. Mr. Mapes re 
signed in Februrary, 1842, and the young lawyer was 
appointed to the position. That coming fall he was 
elected to the office and again in 1844. In Novejuber 
1846, he was elected county judge and re-elected in 
1850. In 1856 he was elected Judge of Probate. In 
May, 1857 he was appointed, Judge of the Supreme 
Court. In the November election of that year he 
was elected Circuit Judge to which he was re-elected 
three times. In 1860 .judge Turner moved to Owosso, 
to be nearer the center of his circuit. Re continued 
to make that his home until his death in 1907. He 
held several important governmental positions after 
moving to Owosso. In his early years in Ho well, he 
attended to the duties of his official positions, en- 
gaged in other lines of business, and built uj) a nice 
law practice. Soon after coming here he l)uilt the 
office building just south of the city building, and a 
residence on the lot now vacant, opposite Fishbeck 



70 HISTORl OF HOWELL 

Bros, shoe shop. He afterward built the house at the 
corner of Fleming and Hubbell streets, now occupied 
by II. C. Reed, which was his home for a good man\' 
years, 

Fredrick C. \¥hipple who settled in Brighton in 
1841 and was the founder of the Livingston Courier, 
moved to Howell with the paper, in 1846 and prac- 
ticed law here for twenty-two years. He served the 
county as Circuit Court Commissioner, Prosecuting 
Attorney and Judge of Probate at various times. 
He was a brilliant lawyer and was recognized as a 
leading jurj' lawyer of the state. 

Lauren K. Hewett settled here in 1842 and prac- 
ticed law for about fifteen years. His brother Lewis 
H. Hewett was associated with him here for some 
years. Richard B. Hall practiced law here from 1843 
to 1848. He afterwards went to California where he 
became a detective of some considerable note. 

James H. Ackerson became a lawyer here in 1843. 
His practice has the reputation of sharp dodging rather 
than profound law. A story is told that he was em- 
ployed to defend a man who was guilty of larceny. 
Ackerson saw defects in the papers and arranged with 
his man to break them and then run him off while 
they were drawing new ones. I-'\)r this purpose he 
rode one horse and led another when he went out to 
the country justice's for the examination. The scheme 
worked and the prisoner got safely away on the extra 
horse. 



HISTOFtY OF HOWELL 71 

John B. billingliam commenced the practice of law 
liere about 1845, and had a good business for about 
fourteen years. He moved to Saginaw in 1859. While 
here on a visit and business trip sometime later, he 
was taken suddenly sick and died. 

Justin Lawyer settled here to practice law in 1846 
but only remained a few years, moving from here to 
Union City, Branch county, from where he afterwards 
moved to Oold\rater. He died very suddenly a few 
years ago, leaving a handsome property. His widow 
who is remembered here as a most eccentric charactej-, 
never admits anyone inside the door of her palacial 
home and never leaves it in the daytime if she can 
possibly avoid doing so. Practically all her conne<'- 
cion w-ith the outside world is done with her telephone, 

Charles C, Ellsworth, first landlord of (ifay's tem- 
perance hotel, studied law with Judge Turner and w^as 
admitted to the bar here in 1848. He married a daugh- 
ter of Mr. Gay and moved to Greenville in 1851, 
where he became piominent in his profession and in 
politics. He served that district in Congress w^th 
some little distinction. Another of Judge Turner^s 
students was John V, Parnsworth who afterwards be- 
<^ame a Congressman from an Illinois district, 

William A Clark moved here from Brighton, 
while prosecuting attorney, about 1851. In the 
early '60 s he moved to Saginaw. 

As noted previously Rev. Edward E. Gregory set- 
tled in HoTvell in 1881). He lived for some time in 



72 HISTORY OK UOW'i-^LL 

Rev. Heiiry Root's unfinished honse and as lie nsed 
to say, "('OoKed by a stump in the street," at that 
time lie tried fanning on his farm three miles away. 
In 1845 he became pastor of the Presbyterian church 
here and served faithfully in that position for two 
years. With the exception of a short time in Owosso, 
Mr. Gregory continued to reside in Howell until his 
death in J8.S4. He wa^ of a quiet and unasuming na- 
iUie but of sterling Christian character. His name 
was associated with all the organizations for moral 
uplift in the early days of this corainunity. 

Joseph B. Ski 1 beck opened a shoe shop in Howell 
about 1840. His business was gradually developed in- 
to a general store which he carried on for a nund3er 
of years, acquiring a good ])roperty which kept him 
in plenty in his declining yeais. 

pJohn R. Neely came heie about the same time as 
Mr. Skiibeck. He was a masoii by trade, the pioneer 
in that line of business to live here. Several of the 
older buildings are monuments of his labor. 

Joseph Rovve the pioiK^er tailor was another to ar- 
rive about that time. 

The Livingston Courier, a live column folio paper, 
was the first published in the counr> Irs first issue 
was at Brighton on January 10, 1843. Nicholas Sul- 
livan was its first publisher and Frederick C. Whipple 
was its first editor. Early in October, 1848, it was 
moved to Howell ])y its publisher and Lewis H, 
Hewett v>'as employed as editoi-. Its first issue in 



IIISTOUY OF IK) WELL 7^3 

Howell was Octobor 11. About, three years attor 
moving to Ho well, Mr. Sullivan sold the Courier to 
E, R. Powell and it was afterwards owned by William 
B. Smith and George V. Root. Under Mr. Root's 
management the paper died in 1856. A few adver- 
tisements from the Courier of xMay 10, 1848, may be 
of interest: 

"The Livingston Courier will be issued exi-vy Wed- 
nesday morning, at the village of Howell, Livingston 
County, Michigan, E. R, Powell editor and proprietor. 
Terms: One dollar and fifty eents peranum in advance 
otherwise two dollars will be required in every ease.'' 

"Hewert & tjall, Attorneys and Couneellors at hnw 
and Solicitors in Cbaneery, olfice over Lee's store, 
Howell, Livingston county, Mich. L. H, Hewett, 
Prosecuting Attorney. R. B. Hall, Notary Public." 

"L. K. Hew-ett, Attorney and Counselor, Circuit 
Court Commissi'. riier. Office opposite the Public 
Square, Howell.'' 

"Z. H. Marsh, M. i>.. Physician and Surgeon, 
Office one door east of tli^ Post Office, Howell, Liv, 
Co. Mich," 

"A. S. Hollister, Watch Maker, Clocks, Watch- 
es, Jew^elry, &c., of every description, cleaned, 
repaired and warranted. Shop one door east of the 
Livingston Hotel . ' ' 

"John W. Smith, Justice of the Peace, Office one 
door west of the Post Office, over W. Riddle's store, 
Howell, Mich." 



74 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

'Livingston Hotel, by N. KSuUivan, Howell, Liv- 
ingston County, Michigan.'' 

'•Union Hall, by N. Smith, Howell, Mich." 

''New Harness Shop, opposite the Court House, 
kept by A. Hiscock.'' 

"Physic & Surgery. The undersigned having 
formed a partnership for the purpose of practicing tlie 
above profession, will be ready at all times, (unless 
engaged in professional business) to attend such as 
may require their services. Gardner Wheeler. Thom- 
as R. Spence.'' 

Advertisements also appeared for Clark & Hopkins' 
and VV. A. Huckland, general merchants; Bush & Co. 
grocers, and L. K. Hewett, wheat buyer. The only 
item of local new^s in the whole paper read as follows: 
"Going Ahead. Our village is progressing with 
rapid strides: building after building is arising on 
either hand, while the hand-saw and hammer of the 
carpenters almost deafen one. Tearing down, draw- 
ing off and rebuilding, is the order of the day. 
Messrs. Hinman & Bush and Hewett & Huntley have 
commenced the cellar for a large two- story brick bloj'k 
to be occupied as stores and offices. Onward is the 
march of empire. We are credital>ly informed that 
the entire stock of the Plank road from Detroit 
through this place to the capitol, will soon be taken 
and finished to this place. We opine such good luck 
for the present." 



(JHAPTEK VI. 
lorEnrlj Ti«vf!. 

Indian trails woie the first roiids in this se<ition. 
Tboy formed tlio. hijjhways over whicli the pioneers 
came to tlieii- wilderness homes. Occasionally tbt* 
wagons won hi come np against the trees which J4)'e^v 
so near toj^c'tlier that one must 1)« eut before they 
<^ould j^et throufj^-h. The beginnin^fs <'ould hardly be 
detailed as such, but somehow the inarch of i>ro»ress 
turned these indian trails int(» roads. 

•luly 4th. lSo2, Congress passed an act dire.-ting' 
the president to appoint three connni.ssioncrs to lay 
out a road for military and other purpores, ftoin De- 
troit through Shiawassee county to the mouth of the 
Urand river. The sum of $2,500 was expended 
during the next two years, in opening and grading 
the tlrst ten miles out. Tn 1835, Congress apportioned 
$25,000 more, which opened the road one Imndred 
feet wide through the timber, and l^uilt bridges as far 
as the Cedar river. A grant of live thousand acres of 
land was also secured for the Grand river and Sagi- 
naw roads, of which our road rci^eived its share. 
While the work thus pi'ovide<l for was in progress 
Michigan V>ecaine a state. Soon after .ludge Turner 



76 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

came to Howell in 1840, he became iuterested in the 
project. The roa<l, which he found opened to Brigh- 
ton, was gradually worked through Howell, and near- 
ly to Powlerville, largely by his efforts for state 
appropriation's and other ways of securing funds for 
that purpose. In the spring of 1841, $r),(X)0 was 
transferred by the State IjegisJ&ture from the "Nortli- 
ern Wagon Road.'- to the "Grand River Turnpike," 
with which it way opened to Lansing. This Rppn)= 
priation was increased by the addition of "non resi- 
dent taxes" for all land within two miles of the road 
along the line of the improvement. The legislatui^ 
of 184"^* passed an act providing that 10, (HK) acres of 
internal improvement lands be appropriated to im- 
proving the Grand River road from Howell to what 
is now Lansing, tlicn the village of Michigan, six- 
thousand acres in Ingham eounty and four thousand 
acres in Livingston county. With the aid of a large 
number of private subscriptions which were st'cured, 
this appropriation added to what had gone before, 
put the rojul west of Howell in fairly good condition. 

Before this time the stage lines heretofore men- 
tioned, were doing a thriving business from Howell 
to Detroit. About 1842 or '48, Ralph Fowler who had 
become very much interested in the road west of town 
because of his connection with it as commissioner, 
and C. B. Williams of Williamston, put a line of 
lumber wagims to rutin iug between Howell and Lan- 
sing, which rapidly developed into another stagf line 
in that direction. 



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HISTORY OF HOWELL 77 

The. first Legislature of Michigan went on record foi- 
roads. Acts were passed for state roads everywhere 
where any one suggested them. If a very small per- 
centage of those provided for had come to be roads. 
th3 pioneers would have vied with present day tax 
conditions. Among those which would have come to 
Howell was a road from Allegan to Hastings, to 
Charlotte, to Mason, to Howell, to intersect with 
the Grand River road hei'e. P. J. K. Orane of How- 
ell, was one of its commissioners. The next Legisla- 
ture seems to have insisted that something be done 
for this road for another act was passed for the sam<^ 
line, (ruy C. Lee was named as commissioner in 
this act in place of Mr. Orane. In 1838 the same 
line was again provided for except that in describing 
it, the line was reversed, the description commencing 
at Howell. (George W. Jewett was one of the com- 
missioners named in this act. It seems to have been 
a case of three times and out however, for the road 
was never built. 

In 1840 an act was passed providing for a state 
road from Mil ford to Howell hut it was never 
o]iened. 

While the proposed line failed to touch Howell the 
canal fever which swept through this section about 
18^^7 should be noted in this connection. The Leg- 
islature appropriated $20,000 for the surveys. Three 
lines were pioposed which touched the county. The 
one which promised most was to commence at Mt, 



78 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Clemens on the Clinton river and ran to the mouth 
of the Kalamazoo river. It crossed Crooked lake iu 
this eoiintv. A branch canal was promoted from 
Crooked lake along the Huron river to Dexter, and 
a company was chartered for its construction. As 
late as 1845 the agitation for these water routes had 
life but they too died in the paper stages of the en- 
terprise. 

In 1843 a rail road project was started but farmer.s 
all along the line strongly opposed it on the ground 
that it would injure their teaming trade and make it 
unprofitable for them to keep so many horses, thus 
forcing them back to oxen for their farm work. 
Partially as an outgrowth of this rail road agitation 
there grew up a sentiment for a plank road wliitth 
materialized the next year when the Legislature 
passed an act appointing Charles P. Bush and Ely 
Barnard of Livingston county and Levi Cook, John 
lUindbury and David Thompson of Wayne County 
as a board of commissioners to solicit stock to build 
the "Detroit and Grand River Plank Road.'' Quite 
an amount was secured but no where near the $50,000 
which the charter provided for and the project was 
given up. 

In 1850 another plank road enterprise was started. 
George W, Lee, Josiah Turner, B. W. Dennis, F. 8. 
Prevost and Noah Ramsdell were appointed com- 
missioners by act of the Legislature, to solicit stock 
for the building of a plank road from Howell to 



B 1 STO R y ( JF ROWE LL 79 

Byiou. The uext \ far the act was amended by mak- 
ing Nathaniel Turner and Harvey T. Lee (joni- 
niissioners in phice of B. W. Dennis and F. J. Pre- 
vost. The $oO,000 required by their charter was 
never secured but enough was raised to make the 
promoters sure that it would pull through and tlieir 
company was organized by electing George W, Lee, 
president, Josiah Turner secretary and treasurer. 

April 8, 1848, a company was incorporated with a 
capital stock of one-hundred and twenty-five thousand 
dollars, to build a plank road from Detroit to How- 
ell, also from a point on this road to V/aterford, also 
from some other point on the line, to Milford. The 
company was empowered to increase its stock twenty- 
five thousand dollars at some future time, and then 
to extend its main line from Howell to '*the village of 
Michigan,'^ now Lansing . A commission was se- 
lected to solicit stoek, as follows: Henry Ledyard 
and A. 8. Bagg of Detroit, Joseph M. Mead of Ply- 
mouth, Augustus C. Baldwin of Milford, and Josiah 
Turner of Howell. By its charter this c^^mpany w^as 
empowered "to enter upon and take possession' ' of 
the Detroit and Grand River road. 

Hon. C C, Trowbridge of Detroit, became president 
of the company and Henry Ledyard, also of Detroit, 
secretarv and treasurer. The coinmission made a 
vigerous canvass and soon had enough money to war- 
ant commencing work. During the year 1850 the 
plank was laid to Howell and the great enterprise be* 



80 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

came a fact. The financial success of the Detroit 
and Howell road was assured long before the planks 
were all laid. This caused the organization of an- 
other company whi(^h secured its incorporation in 
the spring of 1850. James Seymour, Hiram H. 
Smith, Ephraim B. Danforth, (^eorge \^^ Lee and 
Frederick C. Whipple were the commission to solicit 
sixty thousand dollars of stock. Their company was 
given the Grand River road from Lansing to How- 
ell. They had raised enough to commence work hy 
that fall and two years later, had the road completed. 
In these days it is hard to grasp the value of such 
a road to the developemeut of all this part of Mich- 
igan. It opened the way for the hundreds of teams 
which daily passed over it. The old stages which 
were little more than lumber wagons, gave place t<> 
four horse vehicles which carried from twelve to 
twenty persons eacli. 

When the planks Avore out and rotted away the 
company filled the gaps with gravel which became 
more and more substantial until the early '70s when 
public sentiment against the tollgates became so great 
that everyone could see that thev were not to stand 
much longer. The companies took off their repair 
forces and allowed the road to run down grad- 
ually, until the people A\'ould stand it no longer, and 
in 1881 they ceased to colliM-t toll here. They hung 
on in other parts of the line until some years later. 
The old tollgate houses were moved back and sold 



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HI8TOKY OF HOW ELI. 81 

tor residences. Charters of thi^ eoiripanies provided 
tor }4"ates every live miles. As Howell was the end 
of both roads, each eoiiipany maintained a gate here 
the one jnst in the ea8t(rn part of town and the oth- 
er at the brow of tlie hill jnst west of the village. 
This arrangement made it impossible for anyone to 
get in or out of town witliout paying the cent pei' 
mile they traveled on that road, for each horse they 
drove. Tt seems a iioniinal amount but it was a big 
enterprise in the early day and paid a large income on 
the investment befoie the railroad came here. 

In this connection it may be well to review the rail 
road projects and development here. A few miles 
beyond Brighton is a little s<jttlement of very old 
houses and a one-story brick building. This old 
town is Kensington. Tn the very early days it had 
a few aggressive men who sought to build a city 
there. The brick building was their "Wild Caf 
bank. It's failure with th(^ consequent loss to people 
all through this section, was their death blow. In 
whatever enterprise their names appeared after 
that, the people turned against it. In 1837 a rail 
road was projected from Detroit to Farmington, to 
Kensington, to Howell, to Byron, to Shiawassee vil- 
lage. It is noticable that the charter provided that 
the company should not only have the right to propel 
cars by steam power, but by animals or a combina- 
tion of any power they should decide upon. The 
commission to solicit stock for this enterprise had two 



82 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

members from Kensington who were jiromineut in the 
work, and the people refused to take hold with them. 
Even the names of such thoron<?hly reliable men as 
Ely Barnard of Howell, and others along the line who 
were members of the commission, did not suffice to 
give the people confidence and they would not take 
hold. 

In 1847, there was another railroad project here. 
(Tcorge W. Lee, L. K. Hewett and E. F. Burt were 
the Howell portion of the committee which worked 
it up. They created quite a sentiment and raised 
considerable money here. Other paits of the line 
tailed to bring up their portion hoAvever and the com- 
pany r:ever went far enough to even organize. 

June 17, 1864 a meeting was held at New Hudson 
in response to a sentiment which had long been grow- 
ing, and the Detroit and Howell Railroad Company 
was organized. The board of directors elected at that 
time contained the names of John H. Galloway, E. F. 
Burt, R. C. Rumsey, Joseph H. Wilcox, Elv Barnard, 
William McPherson and Marcus B. Wilcox of Howell. 
The direcl-ors organized by electing Theodatus T. 
l..yon, president; E. F. Burt, secretary; William Mc 
Pherson, treasurer and Marcus l>. Wilcox, attorney. 

The capital stock was placed at $400,000 in shares of 
fifty dollars each. Hirani Newman, Isaacs W. Bush, 
P. B. Holdridge, Giles Tucker and J. M. Swifo were 
appointed a commission to seizure the stock. 

There was a unity of purpose in Howell at that day 



HISTORY OF HOWELL .s;] 

which j-uirnounls every obstacle. Led by Wililain M^* 
Pher.oii. who was itiore active in the work and more 
ready to sftcrilice hU time and labor tlian probnbiy any 
other, the people went after the great project they ha?! 
undertaken. A year later jf;25(),000 had been sub- 
scribed, and in September, 1806, President l^yon 
announced that $300,000 liad been secured. This was 
tlie sum aii^reed upoi] when work should bciyin. 

Ft required another year to secure the surveys and 
preliminary engineering and then gradins? comn'seMiccd. 
Many will remember that day when the crowd j^-rstli- 
cred near a low place of j^)"onnd not far from whpr»^ 
the water tavjic at the Howell station how staud:^, to 
yee thf* first dirt move for the new railroad. William 
McPher.son wheeled the first load: -Tames Donelly the 
second tind George Greenaway the third, A nnmbrr 
of Howell people followed, one after anotlier* It was 
a standing subject for talk that Mr. MePherst>u 
wheeled his load easier than any other of the older 
men who tried it. 

Borne stock subscriptions failed to materialize but 
the company pushed on with all the money it <'xmld 
secure. When about $240,000 had been expendtul 
their funds ^^ave out and they were obliged to quit 
They had accomplished enough however to insure th«^ 
))uilding of the road and that was what they wanted. 

In 1868 another company was orjjanized to buihi ;i 
railroad from Howell to Lansing. Howell peoph' 
were bending all their energies for the Detroit road 



84 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

and ouly a few became financially interested in the 
now line. Joreph H. Wilcox was one of its board of 
directors however. They Bccnred most of the fmn- 
ehises and right of way and had accomplished con- 
siderable of the preliminary work when the other 
company was obliged to suspend its operations. 

The work accomplished on the Detroit and Howell 
line had already attracted considerable attention in 
financial circles. When the company was obliged to 
quit, James F. Joy flnd other Detroit capitalists in- 
terested themselves. Learning that all the old eoni- 
pH!)y wanted was the constrnctiou of the road, they 
proposed to enter into bonds to do this if the old com- 
pany would give them what they had, and they con Id 
also acquire the holdings of the Linising and Howell 
company. Thes^o terms were accepted. Mr. Joy 
and his associates at once organized what they called 
the Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan K. IJ. Com- 
pany, and took up the work under their contract. A 
newly opened road from Lansing to Tonia was also 
acquired by the eoin]>any sliortly after they eom- 
meneed operations. 

True to their agreements the naw company went 
v-igei-ously to work at both ends of the line. In May. 
1871 the eastern end was opened to Brighton, and 
three months later this whole eonnty turned out to h 
jirreat celebration at Fowlerville, addressed by Der>- 
nis Shields of llowell, which celebrated the advent of 
the iron horse in that village. August 22, 1871 the 



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HISTORY OP HOWELL 85 

line was formally opened wiili an excursion train fmin. 
Detroit to Key wood live miles ])eyond Greenville. 
The Detroit Post in reporting the trip said: 
"'At Howell the train was received with something 
of an ovation. A six-ponnd cannon had been bronght 
into service and fired a sain to as the train moved up 
to the depot, where were assembled an immense con- 
course of people who testified their gratification at 
the arrival of the party by cheers and wavin<? of 
handkerchiefs. Ladies distributed l)oquets. The 
people are enthusiastic over the arrival of the iron 
horse in their town and though the assemblage >ras 
impromptu, it clearly indicated the joy which they 
feel over the coiiipletion of the railroad for which 
they have worked and waited for so many long years. 
Their enthusiasm is pardonable. The town has a 
population of over two thousand, is one of the hand- 
somest in the state and next to Lansing, probably the 
most important on the line of the road.'- 

The road like most Ijusiness projects, has seen its 
ups and downs, but has nearly always been a paying 
property. Its name was changed to the Detroit, Lan- 
sing and Northern, not long after it commenced 
running. It was acquired by the Pere Marquette 
system a few years ago, and is now operating under 
that name. 

As far back as 18613, Ex-Oovernor Ashley of Toledo, 
proposed the (construction of a railroad through 
Howell from that city, to the noi'th. His company 



86 HISTORY OF HOWKLL 

was organized in Ann Arbor, Oct. 28 of that year 
and about $20,000 of capital stock was secured in this 
county. Right of way was seciired from Toledo to 
Ana Arbor, but as only about five per-cer.t of the 
amount subscribed north of that place, was paid in. 
the road left its original line and ran to South Lyon 
which was its northern terminal for a number of years. 
Gov. Ashley was one of those men who never give up 
however, and with his sons, Harry and James M. 
Ashley, kept at the project of extending northward. 
In 1888 their work was crowned with success and the 
Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan R. R. v/as 
completed through Howell to Frankfort on Lake Mich- 
igan. A few years later a system of large transf<'r 
steamers was established across Lake Michigan to 
Menominee, and the road ))ecame a leading trunk 
line to the northwest, adopting as its trademark the 
claim that it was the ''Key to Michigan.'' Its naun- 
has been changed a number of times as its owners have 
< hanged but for several yeais past it has been known 
as "The Ann Arbor Line." 

When tkis road sought to cross the old road just 
south of Howell, they were refused the right of way. 
Tlie tracks were laid up to the old road's right of wa> 
on both sides and one stormy Saturday night, a large 
gang of men were ))rought in from the south. T>y 
<laylight Sunday morning a hole had been dug under 
the old road and their tracks were united. The iwxt day 
an armed guard was posted there and a bridge whi<*h 



HISTORY OF HOWJ5LL 87 

had bePTi prepared for the placf*, was put in. Offliclals 
of tlie two roads held a coaferenee Sunday eveniiij:!: 
and seemed to ^et together. The new company was 
thrown oflP its ^uard and withdrew its forees. Eihvly 
Monday raorniny: the work train of the Detroit, Lan- 
Hing and Northern appeared on the scene with a load 
of necessary material, and tilled the eut under the 
bridge. Then ensued a series of dij^ging out and lill- 
iug up lasting for some time. A compromise was 
linally affected whereby the new road was move<l to 
the west several rods and a grade ciossinjr with a sta- 
tion which for years was known as Howell Junction, 
was secured. It is now knowii as Aun-Pere. 

A very spirited indignation meeting of Howell citi- 
zens was held at the court house during the quarrel. 

The first train north from here carried a party of 
Howell businessmen who paid two dollars apiece and 
spent tlie afternoon in Owosso. 



CHAPTER Vir 
Before the War 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows antedate all 
other secret orders in Howell, as their old lodj»:e was 
instituted by N. H. Nye, D. D. G. M. of Ann Anbor, 
on September 5th. 1849. Its first officers installed 
were: N. (jr., Josiah Turner; V"^, G., L. K. Hewett; 
Seci^etaey, J. B. Dillingham: Treasurer, Lemu<'l 
Spooner. The lodge had quite a prosperous exi stance 
tor a number of years, but finally ceased to exist. 

That same year, a dispensation was granted from 
the grand lodj^e by tlie power of which the Howell 
Masonic lodge began w-orkin*?. It was not chartered 
until January 10, 1850. Its number is HS. The 
lodjje home has been successively in the Einman 
block where the Hubbell block now stands, Lee block 
where Topping block now stands, old Greenaway 
block. Weimeister block, old Winans block and the 
present Masonic temple. The early Worshipful Mas- 
ters were consecutively, Amos Adams, <Tardner, 
Wheeler, Henry H. Harmon, Frederick (■. Whipple, 
Sardias F. Hubbell. Frank W(>.llr^, Sardias F. Hubbell. 
Milo L. Gay, Joseph T. Titus, William C. liumsey. 
.Joseph T. Titus, Albert Riddle, Sardias F. Hubbell, 
Albert Hathaway, Sardias F. Hubbell, Walter D. 
Whalen, John W. Wrig:ht, and Hollin H. Person. 



HI8T0RY OP HOWELL 89 

During Ml*. Hathaway' s term he moved awftv and 
William L. Knapp Senior Warden, filled out the term. 
The Howell foundry lon^ mana^^ed by John M. and 
(leorpfe L. Clark, was built in 1849, by Stephen Clark, 
tor the manufacture of stoves and ftgricultnral east 
ingfs. In 1809, it was pun-haned by George U.Taylor 
and (Teorg:e L, Clark. Tavloj- sold his interest to Geo. 
L. Clark, who sold a half to John H. Galloway, in 
1864. F. S. Wykoff and H. B Blackraan were taken 
into the firm in 1867, and William Williamson hoon 
after l)0uwht Mr. Gallowaj^'s interest, the firm beeoni- 
known as Wykoff, ('lark & Co., which it continued, 
until 1874, when it was changed to Wykoff, Clark & 
Immen. In Deeem])er, 1876, the whole plant, which 
had become at that time the most important manu- 
facturing enterprise of the town, was purchased by 
Josiah M, (Hark, who afterwards died and it was then 
owned by J. M. Clark & Co. J who did a general iron 
and wood manufacturing business. Their trade in 
the Howeli hand car became world wide, a large num- 
])er having been shipped to other countries. Their 
manufacture of the Howell tubular axel wagon was 
also (juit« extensive. Thev gradually ran out how- 
ever, and finally <iuit for want of finances. The buil- 
dings were torn down to clear the s<|uare for the 
Carnegie Library. 

The Howell grist mill at the foot of Thompson's lake 
was conunenced by George W. and Fredrick J. Lee 
in 1849 and <'ompleted during the following year. 



<iO HISTORY OP HOWELjL 

A few years later George W. Lee became sole owner 
Be sold to William Williamson and it has since been 
owned by Zebuion M. Drew, Thomas Birkett, Wil- 
liam Y. Munsonand Oalvin Wilcox, Thomas Hoylaml, 
Thomaa Hoyland & Son, and George Hoyland. T\w 
present proprietor is A. O. Hutchins. The mill has 
always done a good business and is now shipping? n 
large amount of flour in addition to its custom trade. 

In 1850 Shubael B. Sliter commenced the erection 
of a steam saw mill on the site of the present CitA 
Mills. He soon sold part of the business to D. D. 
Chandler and George W. Kneeland who afterwards 
became sole owners. Tlit' mill was burned in 1851. 

The mill sawed quitt: an amount of the plank tin' 
the two plank loads when tliey weit? built. After tie 
lire Judge Kne^'laiid became sole }>roprietor and r**- 
built it. The engine put in after the lire was built b\ 
B, C and H. B. Curtis, and was the tlrst one built 
in Howell. Aiken Holloway, John Hoyt. J. IL Ax- 
tell, J. I, VanDusen, Taylor & Vanl)u.sen and Vau- 
Dusen & Whipple, were sueeessive i>ropriet(>is. Un- 
der the management of the last tiru} tiie mill was re- 
modeled into a griut mill, and soon after that change 
becauie the property of Latson &. Wright. It was 
afterwards purchased by K. (•. Wright & S<>ns who 
made an assignment in July, 1888. The mill was 
bimght by John Birkhart, who rebuilt H and put in a 
full outfit of new machinery making it oue of the best 
in this section. It has been owned bv ('. A. Parshall 



HISTORY OF HOWHLL 91 

i'or &orm*. veftrs p«8fc and isdoinsj n large busini*s8. Mr. 
Par.shaH has (Hintiniif?<l tiio spirit of improvement sIikh' 
Jie becAine llu! (Aviiev. an<5 has put in a larg«i .•imoniifc 
of new niaehinon-. 

Tho Phoenix Fi>nmlry and Mac-hint; Shop, at the 
south-west corn«r of Division ajid Siblf»y streets, w»s 
built by A. W. Smith ^ Co., aftt-r tlu* Inirfiing of tJi** 
oh] Oallowdv fovmdivv iu 1857. Tho foundry was 
burned February 22, 1860, at a k)8S(d* $7,200. B. 0. 
and H. H. Crirtis built new shops on th« same eite 
after the fire. The Ourtises st>hl to Fluyd 8, Wykoft 
»nd t}n> works were atte.rward.s ov«ned by -Tohn H. 
OsUowiiy, Hfiury B. Curtis and ('urtisi & S<»n, The 
business stopped wJiih^ tlie hist nATn<-d tlrru hud it. 
The jirst Hom'*:'1] st3)»ool buihlin;^ was purchared by 
Mr. i-^urti.s and inov<>d to the .<^out.h-west eorner of his 
plant where its still stands. Tb»- Ijuihiijig:^ are now 
occupied by W N. Snedieor & Son's poultry and egg 
business. 

In J845, an M. B. class was l*onne<i ,at West How- 
ell, Mnth ten members. It was mainly supplied by 
pastors from Howell. It continued with more or less 
prosperty, until 1865, when it became cripple<l bj- the 
movin.^ away of several of its memliers, and soon 
ceased to exist. Another M. E. class was organized 
during the pastorate of .Jessie Kilpa trick at Howell. 
but oidy ran a few years. 

About this time, the four corners ae they wer< called, 
began to assume to be a town. Solemon Sly built 



92 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

what has long been called the Four Mile House, on the 
grade west of town, and opened it in 1851. He wai^ 
afterwards succeded by Mortimer Townsend who wan 
followed by Thomaa Gilclirist who was landlord for a 
number of 3'ears. The old building still stands but 
long since ceased to be a hotel. The cemetaries on 
^^ections seventeen and twenty-two belong: to thi^ 
period, the first haviag been established in 1850 and 
the other in 1858. 

As previously noted in this history, the district 
found itself in the svinter of 1818-49, without a school 
house, and a ion*:? and tediou-? fight ensued before fxmxi 
location of the site now or-eupied by our tine central 
school builOiiig:, whieli was done at a school meeting 
held on Dec( inbei- 15, 1848. It was then resolved to 
instruct the board to buih] a school house 38x4S 
feet in size, two i<tory, nt a cost of $1,000. Thi.^ 
y)roposition met; so much opposition by citizens who 
called the proposed building a "castle," that auotlicr 
meeting was called and the size of tlu' building cut 
down to 26s36 feel. The Iniildinjiir was erected dur- 
Hng the coniin.«? siunmpr and fall, and was oeciipied 
in the winter, VVllliaiu Wills bein^' thf lirsf teacher 
tbere. \xi less than a year ii was f'>und tlial th<- 
building was too small and tooins were rented for 
school purposes, outside. This continued until 185r;. 
when by vote of the district, additions were made to 
the building:, larger than its orij>'inal si«<\ 

(Vnvdrv's se^.'.ond addition to [he vtllaiu'e embraced 



HiSTOliY OK HOVVl'^U. m 

the east Imlf of the north -wt^at quaitei' oj: .rreefcion 
thiHy-iive. Ft coul:ai.ned forty-nint! iicre^ near th^ 
Byiou road. Tli^i plat was Bled by the adminiBtra- 
tor of the P. A. (Jowdry estate, October 26, 1858. 

In the very early days there \v«.s an H^rieiiitarai ho- 
ciety in this county, the Livin^>ton County Ajr^^i- 
<'ultural Society, but none of the e:irly pioneers whom 
we have interviewed, know anytliiu*»: jiboiit sueh an 
organization. A meeing" wa.*? held at dw. court house. 
Thursday February 24 1S53, whieli ptoeeedttd to oi- 
i^antze a Livinj*stou (Jounty Ayrieuitural Society with 
Ira Jennittgs, of Green Oak, as president, and a vice 
president from each township, the one from Howell 
being Odell J. Smith. Wm. A. Buckland was 
treasurer and Elijah F. Burt, secretary. The first 
fair was held at such town as would raise the ino8t 
money to defrav expenses, and by those terms went to 
Brighton. Th:^ next meetinj^ was held on the old pub- 
lie square in Howell, this township having? pledijed 
$200 toward expenses. Por a few years it rotated 
back and forth from Brighton to Howell, but in 1860 
the society purchased grounds east of the old toU 
jijate, in Howell, and the first fair held upon th*^ 
society's own i^rounds was in September, 1860. 

When the Aim Arboi* lailroad was coraplet6<l iri 
1888, it ran between the buildings and race track, thu^ 
spoiling the old fair grounds for fftir purposes. Tke 
association was awarded quite heavy damages from 
the nilroad company and Charles Pishbeek bougfht 



94 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

the ^aouiiils. New grounds were purchased ou the 
Byron loiid just outside the village limits aud new 
buildiuj^s were erected there. The fair continued an- 
ouftiiy thet^ for six or eight years aed mu out. 
Some yeare later, McPherson Brothers* took the 
j^rounds on a mortgjig'e. Williain and M, J. McFhei- 
son sold their interests to Alexander, and he sold the 
yfi-ouads to W, \V. Crittenden, 

lu 1898, Howell bui?iue8&mea organized and held a 
i^ti'&iit fair, a leading feature of which was a ladJei^ 
floral parade. Misa Nellie Brooks whh elected queen. 
Two years later, Miss Julia Benedict was queen. A 
Ihird was two years later. The latter was much ot 
th( cBinivft] eider, nmi has been followed by a ear- 
liival by Wixom Bros. 

The Livingston Uepubiiean wa? Btarteu by B. aod 
L. M. Smith, April 27th, 18*)*). Their suecet^s wa^ 
somewhat of the up ami down order for about t'oar 
years at the end of whieb it v^sk eoijsideiably on th<^ 
doKii f^radc. t4eo!«'e W. Lee was then induced to 
take hold of it end with hi^ biother Fred Lee and 
sevt^ral others, fixed up a sort of ntoek (tompauy ar- 
rauj^ement, which ^»uve the pubn<;ati.oii a good (loaii- 
<.'ial bjK^king-. (.<eor^e L. Sage became the e<li(or at 
I bat time. (.George Vv. i^'-re graduaHy buu^iit ont the 
interest of the others and I'y 1^0'-^. he(t the paper wMi 
tstablirhed. It Vva,^ thi-n bold U» James Bowert*. \v}h» 
edited it until lie died in i86(J. After Mr. Bowers" 
death, the paper ,¥«» #oId to A, J>. Waddfill and J. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 95 

l>. Smith. Mr, Smith bought hi?- partner's interest 
in 1868. He afterwards took Praok H. Marsh as a 
partner ftiui li*t€r siiect?ssiv(i]y George W. AxtoU, SoJ- 
omou T. Lyon and E. B. Vanderhoef. Iti 1877. 
Smith & Vanderlioef sold the paper to L. 0. Miller. 

After some years he sold to E. D. and Orrin Stair, 
In 1889, Stair Brothers sold tlie llepublican U' 
George Barnes who haB lately associated his s<)!i A\- 
b*'rt with him in the publiciition. lu all it'^ list of 
editors and publisliers, Ri^publieans of this county 
liave been fortunate in having ftt the hoad of their 
county organ, men of fearless character, trui^ io their 
]>arty principles, and good writers. 

It was while he was editiog the liepubliean that K. 
I). Stair v;rote '^Trixie/'' whieh. h*- soon after .staged. 
and which at once became a popular liit, hiyingf t)i<' 
foundation for the handsome fortiiue which ho ha^ 
ftcqiiired by a long* run of succea-^ \n the theatricrtl 
\vorld. 

The evolution which has di^veloped some of onr 
preeeDt business houses forms interesting' parts of 
Howell's history. Take Monroe Brothers for exam- 
ple. In 1845, George W. and Fred -J. Lee started a 
general istore in the old Whipple block, on the site ot 
Monroe Brothers' present store. Two years later, 
George W. Lee bnilt the first brick «tore in Ho well, a 
two story bnildins: which stood on. the ground where 
Johnson's dru*> store if now, and their store waB 
moved into it. In 1852. Fred J. Lee sold out to ln>; 



96 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

brother and built a new store the next (]<.»or wefc?t. 
The brMthers united a for third story over both siojcs, 
whicl) vvae rented to the Masons for n lodj^e room. 

As soon ;is bis new store wns i-omplcted, Fred -1. 
Lee formed a partnership with Lemuel Spooner and 
th«^y opened h new ntore then*. After a few years, 
they sold their business to E. B, Taylor, who, later 
sold an interest to Fobes Crossman. William B. 
•Tewett i\ho acQuired an iiit<'rei<t theix^ tor a time, 
(ieorge W. Lee tin ally bought this firm out, when 
Mr. Taylor went to California. He eut an archwa\ 
between tb(? two stores and run them togethej* for 
some tinu\ Wlun Mr. Lee became quaitormast^r in 
t]ie army, he iett his business in charge of Alexander 
Mcpherson, who hi\{\ been a clerk there toy sonif 
time. Mr. McPherson bou*?ht an interest in tin- 
store about that time. 

Henry H. Mills formed an aequaintanee witb Miss 
Isabelle McPherson, in college. They were !»arried 
in 1854. and lived near Kalamazoo for about thre;" 
vdars. They came to Howell in 1857 and Mr. Mills 
hoj^nu elerkinii for William McPherson. 8ooa after 
Alexander McPherson bought an interest in the busi- 
ness Mr. Milis bought the rest of Mr. Lee's interests. 
Their stock was n>oved into the v.'cst store. Leander 
C. Smitb rented the corner store and used the west 
side for the post offiee, the east side being" rented t<> 
other parties. 

About a year later, Mr. Mills bought his partner's 



HISTORY op HOWELL 97 

interests and eon ducted the business alone tor ■om^ 
years when he associated his son with him. The firm 
of H. H, Mills & Son was a lemlinj^^ onn herf for 
many years. William Mills went to Topeka, Khhsjis. 
in the late '70s, and laid the foundiition f«.r whnt h;*N 
<]eveloped into the largest general store in that eit> 
His father followed bini a few years later. 

In 1882, Mr. Mills sold the business to two enter- 
prising young men, who were clerkinir for him nt 
that time, Dwight D. Monroe and Will •!. Oarl. A 
new firm was organized under the name of Moniije, 
Oarl & Co., Mr. Mills remainini? in the business as a 
limited partner to the amount of his interest, whieh 
was purchased by the young inen after the big fire of 
1888, which destroyed the two old stoio buildings. 
For a few months after the fire the firm did bnsiu^'ss 
in the Opera House block. Thev made n lease for the 
new Greenaway block as goon as completed, and have 
been on that site since. 

About the tirase of the second big fire in 1892, Geo. 
L. Monroe bought Mr. Carl's interest in the firm. 
and that gentleman went into busirips.^ ;it Muskegon 
Heights. 

In 1901, the general stock was closed out, and tho 
firm have since dealt solely in shoes and wall paper. 

Politics were very warm in Howell in the '50.-. 
When Prof, F. W. Munson was employed to superin- 
tend the schools here in 1856, there was quite a ques- 
tion whether the board would employ anyone but ^ 



98 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

democrat. Prof. Munsun had not yet graduated 
when he came here, and went back to Ypsilanti for 
that purpose in June. The subject of his oration 
was "Locks and Keys." After discussing various 
locks and keys in other countries, Mr. Mimson said: 
■'But we need not go to foreign countries In our 
own south land there are nearly four million human 
beings, who send forth the cry, 'Unlock, unlock.'^' 
A Detroit Free Press reporter complimented Mr. 
Munson on his oration, but criticised that sentence. 
The papers reached Howell, before Mr. Munson re- 
turned, and were the cause of quite a warm welcome 
when he stepped from the stage here. He was charged 
with making a black abolition speech, and some 
people wanted him turned out of school for doing so. 

A good story is told by several men who were little 
boys in the latter part of Prof. Munson 's school work 
here. Frank Whipple had been guilty of something 
which promised him a whipping, and was shut up in 
Mr. Mun son's office. Several little boys from one of 
the lower rooms, were out to play. Henry Wilbur 
ran near enough for the prisoner to call to him and 
ask him to get him out, before Mr, Munscn got back. 
A hasty consultation Avas held. One little boy knew 
where there was a ladder, four or five blocks away, 
and they went after it. So careful were thev that 
that carried the ladder way around another block, so 
as not to pass the windows of their own room, or to 
let their teacher see its shadow, as thoy raised it. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL (^9 

Fiaiik Whipple got out all right, and the ladder wat; 
put back. So well did the boys work it, that no 
teacher could learn how the escape was made aud 
they never knew^ until long years after, when thi' 
little boys were men, and old school days were talked 
over. 

One day in 1854, a young colored man alighted 
from ths stage at the old Union Hotel. His barber's 
chair was on top of the stage and he said he was go- 
ing through to Lansing, to start a barber shop. 
Sentiment a good ways from the colored" race, and in 
the presence of an escaped slave, was two different 
things. George Wilbur coaxed the young man to 
unload his chair and go to work in his bar room. 
He did so, and by genial ways, courtesy and strict 
honesty, made a host of friends here. This first col- 
ored man, Abraham Losoford, paved the way for 
that cordial sentiment toward his race, which has al- 
ways made them welcome in Howell. He lived her*' 
to a good old age. 

Another colored man was here for a few months be- 
fore Mr, Losoford came but he remained for so short 
a time that to Mr. Losoferd belongs the title of How- 
elFs first colored man. 

As previously noted in this history the Livingston 
Courier suspended publication in 1857. The oflBce 
was in a demoralized condition, much of the type pied, 
and generally run down. During the summer the 
material was purchased by Joseph T. Titus, then a 



100 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

young man recently moved here fiom Jackson where 
he had been running the Jackson Patriot, On the 
ilfth of August, 1857, he issued the first number of the 
Livingston Democrat, then a six- columned foli'), but 
afterward enlarged. His first office was in the second 
story of the building now occupied by the Livingston 
Tidings, which had also been the office of the Livings- 
ton Courier. Mr. Titus was a man of ability as a 
writer and his paper soon became one of the leading 
advocates of his party in this section. He associated 
his son John P. Titus, with him in the publication, 
some years afterward, and they continued as owners 
until February 7, 1890, when they failed in business. 
1 reading Democrats of the county at once formed a 
:stock company and purchased the office. John Ryan 
who was just retiring from the county clerk's office, 
was placed in charge and Mr. Titus was given em- 
ployment on the paper. A few years later he went to 
Toledo to live with his daughter Mrs. James Wing 
with whom he went to California a few years ago. 

Shortly after assuming the managem^ent of the Dem- 
(»crat Mr. Ryan purchased the stock held by other 
members of the company and has been the sole owner 
for several years past. Under his management the 
Democrat has maintained its high standard as a coun- 
ty newspaper and an ardent advocate of the party. 

A meeting was held in the Congregational church, 
on the twelfth of December, 1857, to organize an 
Episcopal church. Among those present were Kev. 



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HISTORY OF HOWELL 101 

Hemy Banvcell, Abel F. Butterfield, Joseph T. Titus. 
H, C. Briggs, George Greenaway, George B. HoyL 
Williain A. Clark and M. Labouter. The church too*k 
the name of '*A1) Saints Church of the town of How- 
ell/' Rev. Henry Banwell was its first rector. H«' 
M*as followed by Rev, George 0. Blackman who re- 
j^igned April 17, 1865. Rev. Albert C. Lewis became 
rector in in 1866 and continued as long as the church 
existed, which was until 1868, when the organization 
was changed. Part of the time this church was in 
existence its services were held in the Congregational 
church and part of the time in the court house. 

The changing of the organization referred to was 
the formation of St. John's Episcopal church which 
was effected on Tuesday, April 14, 1868. The articles 
were signed by Milo L. Gay, Joseph T. Titus, 3Iark 
J. Staley, L. D. Smith, Silas Beardsiey and Albert C. 
Lewis, pastor, and were filed in the county clerk's of- 
fice the following day. This church practically ceased 
to exist after a short time, largely because some of 
its most active members moved away. 

In 1878, the church having been strengthened by 
two or three active men, principally by Walter B. 
Brown who had moved to Howell and engaged in the 
drug and book business, the Board of Missions of the 
Eastern Diocese of Michigan, sent Rev. R. H. Dennirs 
here as pastor, and St. John's church was revived. 
Services were held in the court house until their church 
was erected. The plan was for quite an imposing 



102 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

structure to front on Sibley street, with a chapel which 
should unite in an L and front on Walnut street. The 
chapel was erected first and no more has ever been 
done about the buildinij. The removal of Mr. Brown 
again crippled the chun^h and it has never been as 
prosperous as could be desired. It is now connected 
with Brighton and Hamburg: as one parish, of which 
Rey. Harvey Kerstetter of Brighton, is rector. 

The first building burned in Howell townahip, was 
the house of Michael BreiiDer, situated on Section 25. 
This fire occurred in 1840. 

The first fire whic^li inflicted severe loss upon the 
villagOj occurred in the evotung of Monday, Sept. 28, 
1857, and swept die Ea^ii^ Hotel, the first building 
i^rected on the original plat of the village in 1835, and 
nearly the entire line of buildings on the South side 
of Grand River Streei, between Walnut and East 
Streets. The aceoutjt at this fire, given by the Dem 
ocrat in its next insue., was a8 follows: 

''A destructive ii»e broke out in this village at 
^ibout seven o'clock Moiuky evening. It commenced 
m the 'livery barn,' nvnr Hantley'i^ Ea^de Hotel, 
whirih was soon wrapped in flames. The wind was 
blowing strongly from the northwest. Mr. Huntley's 
barn caught next, then hi;^ hotol, then Baicom's .sa- 
loon, then TreadwelTs s^aloon, and theii tlie Old 
Stage House.' All of these buildings were consumed 
by the flames, in about one hour and a half, in spitt^ 
of the efforts of the citizens. The progress of the fire 



HISTORY OF HOWl^LL 103 

<'-ould not bnvo heim ntvf'f^fM here, had they not 
pulled down the four smdl buildiD^g thai gtood on 
the <^ast part of the sumo. bl*H^k. Owing t^ the high 
winds, there wm great dar^i^'er ^)t « Hrgn p<>ftioD of 
the viilagfi beiag ?iwept sway. The burning vwdara^ 
set fire to buildings n.^nrly half ft mile distant, which 
were happily extingni?ihtd. Nearly aJl the bugiiK^g?^ 
men on the gouih sld?? of Grand River Street, as far 
down as Vaoderhoof's HofeL removed their property 
into the street, which afforded a fine opportunity for 
thieving, and thi^ tl^e thievTB employed. 

No one can account for the origin of the fire. Tlu 
heaviest loss occurs to Mr. llurdley, who lost his alL 
His loss h estimated at $5 (K)0. Baleom's saloon wa« 
worth about $300, -ludgc Knoeland's buildinp: ?ibout 
$800, and the four small build lugs pulled down wore 
worth about $1000. The barn whero the fire origi- 
nated was owned by Mr. Oroen, of Detioit; iosg about 
*200. There was no infiuianee on any of tho build- 
ings. Most of the pergonal property wm saved much 
of it in a darnsged state from the rashness of tht 
naen.'^ 

The winter of 1853-54 was a very hard one here. 
At one time the snow went above the record of just 
ten years before that date, which, too, was an ex- 
tremely hard winter. It was a trifle over twenty- 
seven inches deep upon the level, probably the deep- 
est ever known here. All the hay which had been 
cut, was used up long before spring, and the settlerj? 



104 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

were obliged to maintain their stock by browsiag, 
that is, by chopping trees, and allowing the stock 
to be fed upon their lops. The writer renienjbers 
hearing his father often tell of chopping a tree every 
day, all through the latter part of the winter, and ef 
how hungry the poor stock became in spite of the best 
he could do for them. When they heard a tree begin 
to fall they would rush for it and several fai-raers had 
stock killed* in that way. The last day he cut browse 
ray father^s best cow ran under the falling tree and 
was killed. One day along In the spring, he was 
some distance from home when he found a gfood sized 
lock of hay which someone had lost from a load. He 
gathered it up carefully and carried it over three mile^ 
to give his stock a taste of hay. 

Nor did people fare much better than their stock. 
The general need for provisions became so strong be- 
fore the harvest of 1854 that a citizens' committee 
was organized with Henry Smith, father of the pres 
ent Howell postmaster, as chairman. This committee 
made a vigorous canvas of the whole township, as 
then organized, including Oohoctah. Samuel Bush's 
wheat, on what is now the Peavy farm, was decided 
10 be the ripest, and he was told to harvest it or ,tht^ 
committee would. Mr. Bush readily consented, and 
his wheat was soon in the Bogue mill, from where 
tlour was dealt out on a ration basis U> the hungry 
]>eople. 

Whenever the liquor element gets to running' 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 105 

things all its own way, a reaction sets in and some- 
thing is sure to follow. Such a condition was exper- 
ienced in Howell in 1855. In March of that year, 
about thirty leading ladies of the town became so ex- 
cited over the unrestricted sale of liquor, that thoy 
took the matter into their own hands. Marching to 
the saloon of Samuel Balcom, they proceeded to 
smash bottles and casks, until no liquor remained. 
Long drawn out litigation followed, and Mr. Balcom 
iinally secured a verdict for $510 against several of 
the leading women. Only a part of it was ever col- 
lected. The moral etfect was to stilfen the backbone 
of those in authority, and resulted in a much better 
enforcement of law. 

One of Benjamine Spring's retorts about this time 
is still told by our oldest residents. A man died who 
had long been one of his special friends. As the fu- 
neral procession was passing his bar room, Mr. 
Spring and others sk3od watching it, whsn one of 
them noticed that he was crying. Upon rallying him 
about it, Spring replied: *'I teli you boys, this is a 
pretty solemn occasion. It's the first timelm a long 
while when he has gone by without stopping to take 
a drink." 

The first fight in this township, which resulted 
seriously, occurred in October, 1856, when Henry 
Hollis is alleged to have struck Gecrge Obert with a 
neck-yoke. Obert lived but a few daj's and Hollis 
was arrested, charged with murder. The jury disa- 



106 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

greed and HoUis was released on bonds. He was 
never brought to trial again. 

On July 20, 1857, John Lagrange, while intoxi- 
cated, picked a fuss with Sanford S. Moore, and was 
killed during the quarrel. Moore plead self-defense 
and the coroner's jury so iound. 

Howell ^vas represented at Liiiising, quite early in 
its history. In 3850 George W. Kneeland was rep- 
resentative from this district. Charles A. Wilber 
was elected to that position in 1855. 

Of the physicians who settled here in this decade, 
Dr. Henry J. Rumsey begun pr<ietice in 1853. He 
had been in mercantile busines^s here for a short time 
previous. He died here in 1858. 

Dr. Robert C. Hutton commenced practice here in 
1857. la his latter years he moved to Detroit. 

Dr. Henry N. Spencer who came to Fowlerville 
in 1853, gradually extended his practice to Howell, 
and moved here in 1869, he having been elected judge 
(»f probate in 1868. After his term of office he con- 
tinued to practice in Howell. 

llenry H. Harmon studied law in tlie office of 
Hewett Brothers while teacliing in the Howell schools, 
and was admitted to practice in 1849. He held the 
otlices of circuit court commissioner, prosecuting at- 
torney and probate judge. He became one of HowelFs 
leading lawyers and continued so until his death. Of 
high moral ideas, he did mut^h toward the establish- 
ment of that sentiment which so long prevaib>d here. 



HISTORY OF HOWELJ. 107 

tlie trial of eases upon their merits latlicr t}i«n by 
tricks and subterfuges. 

Mylo L. Gay was a student witli F. C. Whipple 
and was admitted in 1853. He maintaiufd an oftiee 
in the rooms now occupied by The l^iving^ton Ti- 
dings for a number of years, but trftut^acted a general 
loaning,' and real estate business more than a ia>v bus- 
iness. He enj^aged in banking at Fowlcrville, for a 
iiumber of years. 

In the early MOs., Marcus B. Wilcox moved here 
from Pinckney. lie sorved as proseciuing attorney 
for two terms. 

Saidias P, Hubbell was the first law .'student in this 
county, in the oflice of Wellington A. Glover, in 1H4() 
and 1841. He practiced in Oakland county about 
fourteen jears, and returned here iu 1854. He 
served as circuit court commissioner and three terms 
as prosecuting attorney. He had a larj^e legal prac- 
tiee here until his death. 

Andrew 3>. Waddell, who lived here with his pur- 
ents in a very early day, returned with his family to 
New York, after the death of his father in 1855. 
After a year in the oflfice of John B. Dillingham, he 
was admitted to practice, He served two t^rmi a» 
circuit court commissioner and two terms as m'o»- 
ecuting attorney. A leader in his profession and as 
a citizen of this community, his death was mourned 
as a public calamity. 

Another early lawyer was Jerome Turner, son of 



108 HIHTORY OF HOWKLl. 

Judge Turner, who was admitted to practice in 1857, 
He only practiced here a few years when he moved to 
Corunna. 



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CHAPTER VllI 

lf«>W( 11 in tiiK War 
The arrival of the stage on the eveuing of April 14, 
1861, will never be forgotten by many in Howell. 
The dark cloud, which had hung so heavdly upon our 
national horizon, had burst, and Sunipter had fallen. 
The news came like a thunderbolt to this vicinity. 
Old men burst into tears, and many were the homes 
where sleep failed to enter that night Amoni;? the 
earliest to go to his place of business the next morn- 
ing, was Joseph T, Titus, who was soon joined by 
Prank Marsh, then a typo on the Living^ston Demo- 
crat. At Marsh's suggestion, a flag was borrowed 
and the first to fling the stars and stripes to the 
breeze in Howell, after the fall of Ft. Sumpter, was 
Mr. Titus, who raised it over his offiee, then in the 
wooden building, now occupied by the Livingston 
Tidings and Hopper's insurance offiee, on Grand 
River St., opposite the Court House. The flag was 
soon joined by many more, and when President Lin- 
coln's call for seventy- five thousand men arrived in 
Howell on the 15 of April, it created the wildest ex- 
citement. A very large and enthusiastic "Union 
Mass Meeting" was held at the court house, April 
HO. The court house, proving too small, the meeting 
was adjourned to the public square, where two band^ 



110 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

played national airs, and speeches were made by sev- 
eral citizens. A set of resolutions were adopted, of 
which the following^ was the last: 

'' Resolved i That we devote as an oblation and 
willing sacrifice upon the alter of our common coun- 
try, all political party prejudices and animosi- 
ties, and by obliterating all party distiuctions, to 
unite as patriotic American citizens in defence of the 
perpetuity and prosperity of the American Union; 
and to such a line of conduct we dedicate ourselves, 
and pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred 
honor to the cause of our country, and to the mainte- 
nance of the Constitution and Uiiion bequeathed to 
us as a precious heritage of freedom, by our heroic 
ancestors/' 

The state had no money with which to equip soldiers 
and a popular loan was inaugurated. George W. Lee 
furnished $500 towald this fund and accepted a posi- 
tion in the quartermaster's department. 

Two companies were soon in the field. One raised 
by Capt. John Gillnly, became C'ompany I of the Fifth 
Michigan Infantry, and its history will be noted with 
that regiment. The other was raised by Lieut. Jas. 
Mulloy, and became part of Company K of the 
Fourth Infantry, and were the first in the field of 
Howell soldiers. The names of Howell men in this 
<3ompany were: Second Lieut. Jas. Mulloy, Sergt, 
Jonathan S. Sharp, Sergt. Edgar Noble, Henry 
Boothby, B. O. Deramirig, Julius I). Smith, William 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 111 

Bennett, D. A. Wilson, Oalviu Wilcox, Stephen U. 
Fishbeck, John Dorn, Americus Totten, Ira Holt and 
Giles Donely. 

Thege mt-n, with quite a number of others trom 
this county, making in all about half a company, 
raarched away from Howell, May 21, 1861, amid the 
wildest excitement. At Dexter they were united 
with men from that .section, to make a company, and 
proceeded to rendezvous at Adrian, and June 2, 1861, 
were mustered in, the regiment numbering 1025 offi- 
cers and men. Five days later, they left Adrian, and 
moved by the way of Toledo and Cleveland, to Har- 
risburg, Pa., where they remained until July 1, when 
they moved to Washington, where they were armed 
with Springfield muskets. They helped to build the 
defences around Washington, for a short time but 
.,. were 80on transferred into Virerinia, and some of 
them took part in the first battle of Bull Run, the 
Fourth being among the few regiments who succeeded 
in retiring in good order from that field. The por- 
tion of the company, not in Bull Run fight, were sta- 
tioned at Fairfax Court House, under command of 
Lieut. Mulloy, who resigned his commission imme 
diately thereafter, and his company never saw him 
again. It will be remembered that this company had 
enlisted under the first call for three months, but 
when they were mustered, the term of service was for 
three years, but no medical examination was made 
until after the first battle of Bull Run. The result of 



112 HISTORY.OF HOWELL 

this examination was the discharge of B. O. Dem- 
miug and Ameiicus Totten, for disability, and they 
were soon followed by Henry Boothby and D. A. Wil- 
son, for the same cause, 

Calvin Wileox, who was in the Fairfax Court 
House division of the company, was taken sick soon 
after the battle, and with Julius Smith and John 
Dorn were soon after taken with typhoid fever and 
after terms in the hospital, were discharged. Smith 
weighing less than 100 pounds, on his arrival home 
Dorn died in a New York hospital. This left J. S. 
Sharpo, Wm. Bennett, Edgar Noble, Ira Holt, 1 Giles 
Donelly and Stephen ik, Fishbeck as tbtj only Howell 
members of the company. They spent the winter of 
()l-62 in camp at Miners Hill, Va., and during the 
next year, went with MeClelian to Yorktown and 
fcheiice up the peninsula. On this campaign Sharpe 
was captured and the tale of his suffering is told 
amid the horrors of life and death in Millers ville 
prison. Giles Donelly was transferred to the invalid 
c-orps. \Vhen Capt, DePuy of Ann Arbor, was 
killed in the battle of Gaines Mill, i-tepheu Fishbeck 
saw him fall, and secured his sword and other things 
And had them sent home to his wife, who has them 
now. From the peninsula, the regiment went north 
with the army of the Potomac, and took part in the 
second battle of Bull Run and Antietam. After that 
battle, Stephen Fishbeck was transferred to the U. 
S. gun boat (rladiulus, and Wm. Bennett to the 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 113 

fourth K. I, Battery, leaving: Edgar Noble and Ira 
Holt, the only Howell soldiers with the Fourth Mich- 
igan Infantry. Their next experience, was a march 
through the raud and snow of Virginia, in December, 
1862, and taking part in the Battle of Fredericksburg, 
where Holt was wounded and soon after discharged. 
Then came a long and tiresome march to Gettysburg. 
The Fourth took part in the pursuit of the enemy, and 
spent the following winter in camp at Belton. Camp 
was broken, April 30, 1864, and May 5, 6 and 7 saw 
Mr, Noble with his regiment, in the Battle of the 
Wilderness, and through the days that follow^ed in 
that long drawn out conflict. Our Howell soldier re- 
ceived a w^ound in the leg, which laid him up for a 
time. The regiment's time expired June 19, 1864. 
Of the regiment who enlisted, only 223 were then 
mustered out, and 129 of these re-enlisted as veterans, 
Mr. Noble being among them. Nearly 200 of the 
original regiment had been killed or died of wounds. 
The new regiment opened its career by taking part in 
the battle of Deeature, Ala. The rest of its service 
was principally guard and picket duty, but in the hot 
sun was very hard on the men. 

Mr. Noble has the distinction of being the only 
Howell soldier, and with Mr. Carpenter of Petty sville. 
the only ones from this county, who enlisted on the 
first call, served all through the war and returned 
home. 

The second body of men to go out from Howell a» 



114 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

above stated, became a part of Company I of the Fifth 
Michigan Volunteer Infantry. It was credited to 
Brighton but was known as Livingston Company. 
Its Captain was John Gilluly of Brighton; First Lieu- 
tentant, Hudson B. Biaekman, of Howell and Second 
Lientenant Charles H. Dennison. Lient. Dennison 
who was in command of an advance picket line near 
Alexandria, was the first member of the company to 
be hit bv the enemy. He was wor nded through his 
head. The regiment was in camp at Ft. Wayne, 
near Detroit, for several months, perfecting its organ- 
ization and driil. A great many people believed 
that it would never go to the front but the disaster 
at Bull Run changed that idea and on Sept. 11, 1861, 
it left for ('eveland on the steamer " O^ean.^' From 
there they went by rail to Washington. 

In the regimental organization Lieut. Biaekman 
became quartermaster in which position he served 
during the war and was brevetted Major on his dis- 
charge, Nov. 3, 1866. 

During its stay at Ft. Wayne the regiment made 
many changes in its membership, several leaving to 
join other organizations or to come home, and a good 
many enlisting there. When it left for the front it had 
the following Howell soldiers in Company I: Sgt. 
J. Ashley Pond, Corp. John V, Gilbert, Corp. Wil- 
liam Pullen, Privates Alexander C. Wilcox, Lyman 
A. Wilson, George W. Wells, Emerson Soule, Alva 
W. Seofield, Milton Hitchcock, Henry C. Goodrich* 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 115 

Merritt F. FiiileD and Albert Peckens besides many 
from various towns of this county, among whom 
were (leorge Dudley and E. C. Wright, who were 
residents of Howell for many years. 

When the regiment was mustered into service Lewis 
C. Tupper was in the hospital at Detroit, from where 
he w^as not able to be released until February, 1862. 
He left at once for the front and was mustered as soon 
as he arrived, February 24. He was taken prisoner 
October 27, 1864, but was returned to the regiment 
April 19, 1865. 

Although participating in a number of slight skir- 
mishes the Fifth did not get into battle until it reached 
Williamsburg, on May 5, 1862, w^hen it was in Gen. 
Berry's third brigade of (ren. Kearney's division 
which reached the battle ground about the middle of 
the afternoon, and was in the hottest of the figlit 
from that time until dark, closing the day with a 
heroic charge which showed the splendid fighting qual- 
ities for which it was afterwards noted. The regi- 
ment went into this fight about 500 strong of whom 
it lost 153 in killed and wounded. Among the 
killed were Sgt. Ashley Pond, Albert Peckens and 
Merritt F. PuUen of Howell. 

John Gilbert was wounded. He w^as the first 
wounded soldier to arrive home in Howell. After 
about two years of recruiting health he enlisted in 
in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry with which he served 
to the ^nd of the war. 



116 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

To follow the history of the Fifth would be to go 
with the army of the Potomac in all its trials and 
and final triumphs. On Dee. 13, 1862, Lt. Col. 
Gilluly who left this county as captain of company 
I. y elided up his life, while cheerin^j the regiment on, 
Maj. Blackman secured his body and brought it home 
for burial. 

Lyman A. Wilson was wounded in July 1862, and 
was lost to the record* from that time forward. 

Alexander C. Wilcox found the soldier^ s life too 
strenuous. He was discharged for disability at 
Alexandria, in December, 1862. 

George Wells was sick August 7, 1861, and there 
is no record of what l)ecame of him. 

Emerson Sowle was discharged for disability at 
Fortress Monroe, Va.. May 1, 1862, after a term in 
the hospital. 

Milton Hitchcock was taken siek early in 1862 and 
died at Alexandria, Va., Feb. 2 of that year. 

Henry C. Goodrich came home sick in the spring 
of 1862. 

When the spring of 1863 opened with its new com- 
mander. Gen. Hooker, the Fifth moved up the Rap 
pahannock. During that year the regiment made a 
number of forced marches the most wonderful record 
being on July 2 when it moved ten miles in thrae 
hours, reaching the Gettysburg battle ground at 4 
p. m. An hour later it had lost 105 men. By the 
following winter the regiment was so reduced in num- 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 117 

bers that it was returned to Michigan , arriving in 
Detroit on January 4. The men were given a veteran 
furlough with their friends at home. 

When it was determined that the regiment was 
coming home Andrew D. Waddell, Solemon T. Lyon 
and Fred E. Angell went to work for recruits. To en- 
list then meant more than at any other time during 
the war. The reality of all that awful strife was upon 
them, but new men were secured. Messrs. Waddeil 
and Angel were commissioned lieutenants of Company 
I. Lieut. Waddell's health would not stand the strain 
upon it and he was obliged to resign and come home 
after four months service. Lieut. Angell only stood 
up under the strain a few months longer than his com- 
rade in office. Mr, Lyon became second lieutenant 
of Company E, and was soon after promoted to first 
lieutenant of Company B, of which he became captain 
September 15, 1864, where he served until the clo!?e oL 
the war. 

Because of the shattered condition all along the 
lines it was thought best that the new men should be 
divided among the various companies instead of form- 
ing one new company as several had expected when 
they enlisted. 

Of the Howell men who enlisted at that time* 

Wm, N. Saunders was disehare:ed Dec, 10, 1863. 

Wm. H. Scriver died of disease at Brady Station, 
Va., March, 24, 1864. 

Edwin H. Smith was wounded at Hatchers Run, Va., 



118 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Oct. 27, 1864. He was taken prisoner at Petersburg, 
Va., Feb, 26, 1865, and is supposed to have died at 
Richmond. 

Joseph Pruden Jr. was killed at the battle of the 
Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 

David Robinson was wounded at the battle of the 
Wilderness, May 5, 1864, and was taken prisoner Oct. 
27, of that year. He was returned to the regiment 
May 17, 1865. 

George Newton died of disease at Baltimore, Md., 
Nov. 21, 1864, and is buried in the government cem- 
etery there. 

Geo, Pennell died of disease at York, Pa., Aug. 9, 
1864. 

Silas M. Perry was wounded in May, 1864. 

Jerome G. Phillips was wounded May 6, 1864. 

Thomas G, Marr was wounded and taken prisoner 
in May, 1864, and died at Anersonville, where his re- 
mains lie in grave No. 2976 in the government ceme- 
terv . 

Abraham Neely was killed at Petersburg, Va., in 
J uly,1864. 

Charles L. Neely was wounded Oct. 27, 1864, and 
died of disease in Washington, in July of the following 
year. 

John Hilderbrant was wounded May, 6 1864, and 
died of disease at Alexandria, Va.. Jan. 5, 1865. 

Howard E. Glover was wounded at Hateher« Run, 
Va , March 27, 1865. He was sent to Harper Hos- 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 119 

pital where he was discharged two months later. 

('hristopher Haynes was killed in the battle of the 
Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 

Charles Culver was wounded in the battle of the 
Wilderness, May 5, 1864, from the effects of which 
he was discharged at York, Pa.^ June 27, 3865. 

Phile Curtis was killed at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, May 5, 1864. 

Wm. H. Curtis died of disease at Washington, D. 
C, April 22, 1864, 

Isaac Felter was killed in the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, May 7, 1864. 

George W. Cooper was killed at the battle of the 
Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 

Wm. Cooper Sr. was wounded and taken prisoner 
at Petersburg, Va,, Oct. 27, 1864. He was returned 
to the regiment May 17, 186.5. 

Wm. Cooper Jr. was wounded Oct. 27, 1864. 

Cyrus L. Carpenter was wounded May 6, 1864 and 
discharged at Pt. Lookout, Md., June 5, 1865. 

Sidney O. H. Carpenter was wounded May 6, 1864 
and again on Oct. 27 of that year when he was taken 
prisoner. He was returned to the regiment April 
22, 1865 and sent to a hospital at Columbus, O., 
where he was discharged on May 27. 

Wm. G. Clayton was discharged at Philadelphia, 
Pa., June 9, 1865. 

James Canfield was wounded at the battle of the 
Wilderness May 6, 1864, and died at Alexandria, where 



120 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

he is buried in the government cemetary. 

Andrew J. Carl died in a hospital in New York, 
Aug. 24, 1864, from wounds at Petersburg, Va. He 
was buried in grave No, 1435 of the National Ceme- 
tery at Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Henry Carl was discharged at Washington, D, C. 
Nov. 9, 1864, because of wounds received in the bat- 
tle of the Wilderness. 

Noah Boothby was wounded May 5, 1864 and trans- 
f ered to the Veteran Relief Corps eight months later. 
He was discharged at Washington, July 20, 1865, 

Elias R. Brockway was wounded in the battle of 
the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, and taken prisoner at 

Hatcher's Run, Va., Oct. 27, 1864. He escaped March 
16, 1865 but was so badly broken down when he 
reached the regiment that he was sent to Washington 
where he was discharged in June following. 

George Bronner was wounded May 12, 1864. 

George W. Axtell was wounded through his mouth 
and neck at Hatcher's Run, Va., Oct. 27, 1864 and 
discharged May 13. 1865. 

George Barnard was wounded and missing May 13, 
1864. 

Wm. J. Barrett was wounded May 5, 1864. 

Frederick Zeitz was wounded May 13, 1864. 

Andrew J. Whitaker was wounded May 13, 1864. 

Wm. L. Whitehed was taken prisoner May 12, 
1862 and lost to the records at that time. 

Ezra Whitaker was wounded May 5, 1864. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 121 

Edwin Ware was taken prisoner June 22, 1864 and 
returned to the regiment in January following. 

John Wehner was wounded Mayo, 1864. 

Orin J. Wells was discharged Jan. 26, 1864. 

Henry Pate, Charles Hilderbrant, Samuel P. Lord, 
Marion Hart, Wm. Brooks, Asa Wilson, and Andrew 
J . Allen were the only ones who escaped without be- 
ing wounded or taken prisoners. 

February 10, 1864 the reorganized Fifth regiment 
left Detroit, to return to the Army of the Potomac. 
By the fifth of the following June the Fifth was so 
badly cut to pieces with the hard fighting it had 
undergone, that the Third Michigan which was also 
reduced to a mere skeleton, was merged with it. The 
next years record shows 546 killed, wounded and 
missing. It was in the hottest of the last days of 
fighting and took its place in that never- to- be-fogot- 
ten grand review in Washington. 

June 10. 1865 the Fifth lelt the vicinity of Wash- 
ington moving toward home. By July 4, it had 
reached Jeffersonville, Ind. Where it was mustered 
out. On July 17th it arrived in Detroit where the 
men were paid off and discharged. 

The Ninth Michigan Infantry was raised in the 
latter part of the summer and early autumn of 1861. 
It also rendezvoued at Ft. Wayne, Detroit. Wil- 
liam W. Duffield was its Colonel but was to have been 
promoted to Brigadier General about the middle of 
the following summer. A severe wound prevented this 



122 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

and «ooii after compeiled hho to resign. John G. 
Parkhurst its Lieutenant Oolonel, was promoted to 
the command. 

The resrimeut moved from Ft. Wayne, Oct. 25, 1861 
and was the fii'st Michigan regiment to join the Wes- 
tern Division. An epidemic of measles broke out 
that fall and sent a large per cent, of the regiment 
to the hospital. On July 18, 1862 five companies of 
this regiment which were encamped in a grove near 
Mufreesboro, Tenn., were suddenly attacked by 
Forest's rebel cavalry in force fully ten to one of the 
strength of the Ninth. Col. Parkhurst and his brave 
men, although surprised in the onslought, witheld the 
enemy in such a way that Uen. Forest withdrew 
and went over about two miles where he easily cap- 
tured the Third Minnesota regiment and a battery of 
artillery whi(^h were sent to the rear. 

A single company of the Ninth which had been 
stationed at the court house in Mufreesboro, held Gen. 
Forest for two hours before they surrendered. 

Keturning in the afternoon Gen. Forest succeeded, 
after another hard fight, in capturing the five com- 
panies which had driven him off in the morning. 
The rebel commander recognized the valor of his 
prisoners by issuing an order that all members of the 
Ninth should be mounted. This was easily done on 
the horses they had emptied of their riders during 
the fight. On the other hand the Minnesota troops, 
including the Colonel and staff, were compelled to 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 123 

march, when the column started for the rear. 

During the confusion after the surrender, several 
mejnbers of the Ninth succeeded in escaping. No re- 
port could be made of them by their officers and their 
names found their way to the deserters' columns. 
Believing that the Ninth would never be reorganized 
some of them at once ^joined other regiments and did 
good service. They have had the trouble of securing 
the proofs to clear official records nevertheless. 

Many of the enlisted men were soon after parolled 
and in time the officers were exchanged. When Col. 
Parkhurst was exchanged in December, 18G2, he set 
about reorganizing his regiment. Gen. Thomas is- 
sued an order especially commending the regiment 
for its heioism in the tight at Mufree^boio, and ap- 
pointing Ocl. Parkhurst as his provo officer. The 
Ninth then became the provo guard of (len. Thomas' 
division and continued so until the close of the war. 

There are many duties which devolve upon the pro- 
vo. Among others it takes a position in the rear 
during battle, and drives tliose who would run back 
into the fight. In the discharge of this duty there is 
often call for cool bravery. Its men must hold their 
heads when the whole army are panic stricken. If 
the provo breaks in a crisis, all is lost. The history 
of Gen. Thomas' division shows that he made no 
mistake in selecting the Ninth fer this important place. 
In more than one occasion they held the army to 
business and turned a panic into a charge, 



124 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Individual history of Howell men with the Ninth 
is as follows. 

Charles P. Lake, enlisted Oct. 16, 1861, re-enlisted 
Dec. 7, 1863 at Chattanooga, Tenn. Appointed cor- 
poral Dec. 7, 1863, sargeant, Oct. 29, 1864. Mus- 
tered out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 15, 1865. 

Henry LaRowe, enlisted Feb. 12, 1864. joined 
regiment at Chattanooga, Tenn., Feb. 29, 1864. 
Discharged for disability at Nashville, Tenn,, Aug, 
10, 1865. 

James P. LaRowe, enlisted Feb. 27, 1864, Mustered 
out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 15, 1865. 

Jerome G. Buckland enlisted as corporal, Sept. 
25, 1861. Died of disease at TuUahoraa, Tenn., 
Aug. 25, 1862. 

Lyman Carl enlisted Oct. 1, 1861. Died of disease 
at Mufreesboro, Tenn., Jan, 16, 1863. 

Henry L. Lake enlisted Oct. 16, 1861, re-enlisted 
Dec, 7, 1863. ParoUed and sent to Camp Chase, O., 
July 13, 1862, corporal. Discharged at Jackson, 
Mich,, Sept. 28, 1865. 

Andrew J. Allen enlisted Oct. 24, 1861. Sick in 
hospital at West Point, Ky., in January, 1862* 

Wm. E. Bennett enlisted Oct. 1, 1861. Re-enlisted 
Dec, 7, 1863. Mustered out at Nashville, Tenn, Sept. 
15, 1865. 

Win ton B. Brooks enlisted Oct. 9, 1861, re-enlisted 
Dec, 7. 1863. Mustered out at Nashville, Tenn, 
Sept. 15, 1865. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 125 

John H. Mills enlisted Oct. 5, 1861. On dutv with 
Eleventh Infantry from Dec. 28, 1863, to March 24, 
1864. Discharged at Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 14, 1864. 

Henry Musson enlisted Sept. 26, 1861. Parolled 
July 13, 1862. 3ent to Camp Chase, O., Jan. 1863. 
On duty with Eleventh Infantry from Dec, 28, 1863 
to March 24, 1864. Discharged at Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 
14, 1864. 

James Reed enlisted Feb. 1, 1864. Joined regi- 
ment March 4. 1864. Mustered out at Nashville, 
Tenn., Sept. 15, 1865. 

Everett Sargent, enlisted Oct. 7, 1863 , Wounded 
in action July 13, 1862. Regimental color bearer 
from July, 1863, to Dec. 1863. Appointed sergeant 
Oct. 15, 1864; first sargeant Oct. 15, 1864. Dis- 
charged to accept promotion, Dec. 31, 1864, Com- 
missioned Second Lieutenant, Nov. 24, 1864. Mus- 
tered out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 15^ 1865. 

Chauneey Shearer enlisted Oct. 3, 1861. Mustered 
Oct. 15, 1861. No further record. 

Barnard B. Smith enlisted Oct. 24, 1861. Parolled 
and sent to Camp ('base, Ohio, July 13, 1862. Dis- 
charged by order of War Department, 

Gardner E. Smith enlisted Oct. 5, 1861. Died of 
disease at Mufreesboro, Tenn., June. 1862. Buried 
in grave No. 2495 in National Cemetary at Mufrees- 
boro. 

Reuben C. Smith enlisted Oct. 7, 1861. Died of 
disease at West Point, Ky,, Nov, 30, 1861. 



126 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Vernon C. Smith enlisted Oct. 5, 1861. Discharged 
for disability at Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 27, 1862. Af- 
ter the battle of Mufreesboro joined the Fourth Michi- 
gan Cavalry. 

George Stafford enlisted as corporal Sept. 27, 1861. 
Ke-enlisted Dec. 7, 1863. Appointed sargeant Dec. 
7, 1863. Mustered out at Nashville, T^nn., Sept. 15, 
1865. 

Ezra Whitaker enlisted Sept. 25, 1861. 

Joseph Duffy enlisted Sept. 30, 1861. Died of dis- 
ease at West Point, Ky., Oct 28, 1861. 

The Fifteenth Michigan wfis raised and organized 
in tht fall of ]861, by Col. J. M. Oliver. Its rendez- 
vou was at Monroe. On March 27, 1862, it left for 
the front and went rigbt into action at Pittsburg 
Landing where its initiation saw thirty-three officers 
and men killed, sixty-four wounded and seven miss- 
ing. 

Most of the Wi)rk o£ this re^fiment was in Missis- 
sippi and Alabama until February, 1864, when it was 
sent home on a veteran furlough. The greater portion 
of the men re-enlisted and went with Gen. Sherman 
marching through Georgia and to the sea. 

It was the fate of this regimect at least four times 
to hold the position of greatest danger and importance 
in battles and each time it proved true to the selec- 
tions made by its commanding officers, for these po- 
sitions of trust and honor. It was returned to Detroit 
in August, 1865 and mustered out Sept. 1 of that year. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 127 

Howell men with the Fifteenth were as follows 

Edward Allen enlisted March 17, 1862. Re-enlistcd 
Feb. 2, 1864 at Scottsboro, Ala. Wounded in actional 
Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864. Mustered out at Little 
Rock, Ark., Aug. 12, 1862. 

Eiisha F. Allen drafted April 4, 1865. Deserted 
at Jxmisville, Ky., June 3, 1865. 

Samuel Axtell enlisted Dec. 3), 1861. Died April 
24, 1862, Burried at Spring: Grove cemetery, Cincin- 
natti, Ohio, 

Horace E. Barbour enlisted Dec. 6, 1861. Sargeant. 
Wounded in action at Corrinth, Miss., Dec. 1862. 
Discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability, at 
St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 19, 1863. 

Nelson Beardsley enlisted Dec. 19, 1861. Killed in 
action at Corinth, Miss , Oct. 3, 1862. 

Andrew J. Bishop enlisted as Second Lieutenant 
Company B, at organization, Dec. 5, 1861. Com- 
missioned First Lieutenant. Oct. 1862, Acting Ad- 
jutant, Oct 1864. Acting Regimental Quartermas- 
ter, Nov. and Dec. 1864. (^Commissioned Captain, 
Jan. 12, 1864. Discharged at expiration of terra of 
enlistment, Jan. 28,1865. 

Spencer Bowen enlisted Jan. 4, 1862. Deserted at 
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April, 1865. 
_ William P. Briggs enlisted Dec. 9, 1861. Died of 
disease in HowelL July 18, 1862. 

Charles Broekway enlisted as corporal, Dec. 9, 1861 
Died of disease at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., May 15, 



128 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

1862. Buried in National Cemetary at Jefferson Bar- 
racks. 

Elias E. Brookway enlisted as drummer, Dec. 9, 
1861. Re-enlisted Feb. 15, 1864, Mustered out at 
Little Rock, Ark., Aug. i:^, 1865. 

George F. Brockway enlisted Dee. 9, 1861. Re- 
enlisted Feb. 15, 1864. Mustered out at Little Rock, 
Ark. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Isaac Countryman enlisted Nov. 6, 1861. Wound- 
ed in action at Shiioh, Tenn., April 6, 1862. Dis- 
charged for disability, Aug. 19, 1862, 

John Daniels enlisted Nov. 17, 1861. Re-eniisted 
Feb. 2, 1864. Corporal. Mustered out at Little Rock, 
Ark., Aug 13, 1865. 

Marcellus Dickinson enlisted from Handy, Dec. 
7, 1861 discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability 
at Corinth, Miss., June 12, 1862. After regaining 
his health he re-enlisted in the Ninth and served there 
unlil the close of the war. He has since lived in Howell 

Albert G. Dorrance drafted April 4, 1865. Mustered 
out at Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 13; 1865. 

William Dorrance drafted April 4, 1865. Mustered 
out at Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 13, 1865. 

Daniel A. Ellingwood substitute for Wm. McPher- 
son drafted May 21, 1865. Mustered out at Little 
Rock, Ark., Aug. 13, 1865. 

George W. Fox substitute for Charles B. Damon 
drafted Feb, 13, 1863. oargeant March 16, 1865. 
Mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 13, 1865. 



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HISTORY OF HOWELL 129 

Cornelius C. Helms enlisted Dec. 9, 1861. Dis- 
charged on surgeon's certificate of disability at Che- 
walla, Teun., Aug. 9, 1862. 

Henry C. Helms substitute for William Stewart 
drafted Feb. 10, 1865. Corporal Aug. 30, 1865. 
Mustered out at Little Kock, Ark., Aug 13, 1865. 

Jerome D. Helms substitute for John Hubbard 
drafted Feb. 10, 1863. Mustered out at Little Rock, 
Ark., Aug. 13, 1865. 

Nicholas J. Holt dratted April 4, 1865. Mustered 
out at Little Rock,, Aug. 13, 1865. 
Leonard Hook drafted April 4, 1865. 
Charles H. Lonsbery enlisted Jan. 25, 1862. Dis- 
charged on surgeon's certificate for disability at Che- 
walla, Tenn., Aug. 3, 1862. 

Clark Lcunsbery enlisted Jan. 25, 1862. Missing in 
action at Petersburg Landing, Tenn., April 6, 1862. 

William E, Pixley enlisted Jan. 12, 1862. Dis- 
charged on surgeon's certificate for disability at Che- 
walla, Tenn., Aug. 9, 1862. 

George W, Place drafted April 4, 1865, Deserted 
at Lousville, Ky., June 21, 1865. 

Silas S. Richmond drafted April 4, 1865. Deserted 
at Lousville, Ky., June 2], 1865. 

Theodore R. Staley drafted April 4, 1865. Dis- 
charged at Alexandria, Va., July 3, 1865. 

Theodore Washburn enlisted March 31, 1864. 
Killed in action at Atlanta, (la., July 28, 1864. 

Jacob Zely enlisted Dec, 5, 1861. Died of disease 
at Monterey. Miss., May 8, 1862. 



130 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

Recruiting for the Twenty-second Infantry com- 
menced July 15, 1862. Two months later it was mus- 
tered into service, the men comifig from Livingston, 
Oakland, Macomb, St, Clair, Lapeer and Sanilac 
counties which then composed the fifth congressional 
district. Ex- Gov. Moses Wisner became its first 
Colonel and served faithfully in that position until his 
death from typhoid fever, Jan. 4. 1863, at Lexington, 

Ky. 

Col. Ezra C. Hatton for many years recognized 
leader in soldier circles in Howell, was captain of 
Company A, enlisting from Farmington. 

C;ol. Henry S. Dean who was in command during 
some of its hardest service, enlisted from Green Oak, 
as captain of Company H. 

On leaving Michigan the Twenty- second was sent 
to Kentucky. As soon as it reached fighting ground 
Col. Wisner ordered it out to the front some distance 
in the lead of other regiments already there, and pro- 
posed to move right on to Richmond if the rest would 
only follow. An orderly soon presented the compli- 
ments of the commanding general and Col. Wisner 
narrowly escaped a court martial for a start in his 
soldier career. 

Its brave commander did not live to see much of 
the hai^d fighting before the boys in blue marched on 
to Richmond, but the Twenty-second had its full 
share. Its loss on the second day at dhicamauga was 
372 out of the 584 officers and men who went into 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 131 

that fight. It was the work of the Twenty-second in 
this fight which made the foundation for that beauti- 
ful poem "The Rock of Ohicamauga." With cart- 
ridges all gone the Twenty-second kept on fighting. 
They made two charges with fixed bayonets but empty 
guns, which will go down in history. All their acting 
field officers went down and the little remnant remain- 
ing that night, was commanded by a captain. 

The Twenty-second was detailed to the work <if en 
gineers and mechanics for some time, and for months 
served with the Ninth as reserve brigade to the army 
of the Cumberland, doing provo duty consider- 
able of the time. It participated in the advance 
on Atlanta. It was serving at Nashville, Tenn,, 
when the orders came to muster out on Jume 26, 
1865. The next day it left for home. 
Howell men with the Twenty-second were as follows: 
Lewis Brown, enlisted as second lieutenant, July 
31, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant Jan. 5, 1863, 
and to captain, April 1, 1965. Mustered out June 26, 
1865. 

David Hiscott enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, Died Oct. 
11, 1863, at Chattanooga, Tenn., from wounds r«- 
<ieived at battle of Chicamauga. Corporal. Jan. 5, 
1863. Buried in National Cemetery at ('hattanooga, 
grave No. 1,107. 

Peter A. Rorabacher enlisted from Cohoctah. Aug. 
20,1862. Mustered out Jan. 26, 1865. Has lived in 
Howell for several years past. 



132 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

Mark S. Smock enlisted Aug. 14, 3862. Corporal. 
Mustered out June 26, 1865, 

George Bush enlisted Aug. 14, 1962. Mustered out 
June 26, 1875. 

John G. Ferguson enlisted as corporal, Aug. 5, 
1862, from Unadilla. Discharged for disability at 
Louisville, Ky., May 8, 1863. Lived in Howell until 
his death in 1902. 

Norton M, Monroe enlisted Aug. 14, 1862. Dis- 
charged at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 8, 1863, on account 
of wounds received at battle of Chicamauga. 

Lemuel D. Polly enlisted as waggoner, Aug. 12, 
1862. Deserted at Snow's Pond, Ky., Sept. 16, 1862. 

Freeman Rorabacher enlisted as corporal, Aug. 15, 
1862, from Lyons. Discharged at Detroit, June, 26, 
1865, Has resided in Howell for a number of years. 

Nearly every township in this county had men in 
the Twenty -second, many of them enlisting at Howell 
but as far as we can learn, the above were the only 
Howell men in that organization. 

In the latter part of July 1862 John C. Culver of 
Hamburg, afterwards Captain, with one or two others, 
commenced the work of recruiting a companv to join 
the Twenty-second. When thev reached Pontiac 
they found that regiment all filled and after some de- 
liberation, proceeded to Jackson where they became 
Company E of the Twenty-sixth, Another company 
of this regiment was recruited in the south part of 
this county. The regiment 900 strong, left Jackson 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 133 

on December 13, 1862. Its first real duty was about 
four months service as provo guard in the vicinity of 
Washington. 

May 26 of the following year the regiment saw its 
first fighting at Sufi'olk, Va., but it stood its ground 
lite veterans and repelled a strong charge. Capt. 
Culver received a woiind in this his first fight, from 
which he died a few days later. . 

Shortly after this the Twenty- sixth was again in 
luck in being assigned to the duty of quelling the 
draft riots in New York. When they arrived there 
however they were made a reserve force and the fast 
of their presence did the work while the men enjoyed 
life in camp. 

October 13, this life of comparative ease was bro- 
ken up and the Tweniy- sixth became part of the 
Army of the Potomac, arriving in Virginia in time 
for Mine Run. It was often in the front skirmish line 
and won many enconiums as the best skirmishers in 
the Army of the Potomac, Probably its heaviest 
fighting was at Spotlsyvania although it participated 
in the heavy work of the Army of the Potomac dur- 
ing all those memorable days from Mine Run to the 
surrender of Gen. Lee. On that eventful day, the 
Twenty-sixth was in the skirmish line and the flag of 
truce passed through its lines. 

For some days after the surrender the Twenty- sixth 
was detailed to guard the captured artillery and other 
arms. It participated in the grand review at Wash- 



184 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

ington and arrived home on June 7. It was a week 
later however before it was paid off and disbanded. 

Howell men with the Twenty- sixth were as follows: 

Fred N. Galloway enlisted Aug. 15, 1862. Dis- 
charged to accept promotion, November, 1862 

Harris A. Hickok enlisted Aug. 8, 1862. Corporal, 
Sept. 10, 1862. First lieutenant and adjutant, July 
29, 1864. Captain June 9, 1865. Mustered out at 
Alexandria, Va., June 4, 1865. 

George W. Lake elisted Aug. 8, 1862. Died Sept. 
8, 1864, at City Point, Va., of wounds received in 
action at Ream's Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864. 

Newton T, Kirk for three terms county clerk and 
a resident of Howell for many years, enlisted from 
Hartland, as Corporal, Aug, 11, 1862. Seargent 
July 3, 1863. Wounded in action and taken 
prisoner at Spottsylvania, Va,, May 12, 1864, Re- 
turned to regiment Dec. 15, 1864. Discharged to ac- 
cept promotion, Sept. 5, 1864 Mustered as captain 
0f colored troops, Sept. 6, 1864. Discharged Jan 30, 
1865. 

Andrew J. McKean enlisted Ang. 15, 1862. Dis- 
charged at Philadelphia, Pa., June 10, 1865. 

Robert S. Mountain enlisted Aug. 17, 1862. Sick 
at Alexandria, Va., Aug, 25, 1864. 

Herman Preston enlisted as corporal, Aug. 14, 1862. 
Reported Sargeant Major, Dec. 12, 1862. Second 
lieutenant, March, 30, 1863. Discharged on account 
of disbility, Dec. 3, 1863. 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 135 

Eli Rambo enlisted Aug. 14, 1862. Killed in ac- 
tion at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. 

elohn W. Thompkins enlisted Aug. 22, ]864. 
Discharged for disability at Rochester, N. Y, May 
15, 1865. 

Martin Wall enlisted Aug. 8, 1862. Trai^sferred to 
invalid corps Sept. 30, 1863. Discharged at Elmira, 
N. Y., July 2, 1865. 

Philo B. Wines enlisted as corporal, Aug. 8, 1862. 
Discharged at Detroit, June 3(», 1865. 

Harvey P. Wing enlisted Auj<. 8. 1862. Wounded 
in action May 24, 1864. Discharged at Baltimore, 
Md., May 26, 1865. 

George E. Wright enlisted Aug. 8 1862. Wounded 
in action at Spottyslvauia, Va., May 12, 18^4. Dis- 
charged for disability at Portsmouth Grove, H. I., 
Jan. 2. 1865, 

III addition to those already named th^re were a 
good many Howell Si^ldiers scattered through other 
organizations as follow^: 

Bracket J. Allen enlisted from Mundy, in the Twen- 
ty-third infantry. Aug 11, 1862, at Flint. Discharged 
at Alexandria, Va, June 28, 1865. Has lived in 
HeweU for a number ol years. 

George Barnes, substitute for his father John 
Barnes who was drafted at North Shade, Oct. 5, 1864^ 
Discharged at Raleigh, N. C, Oct. 17, 1865. Ex- 
Superinteiident of Schools and publisher Livingston 
Republican at Hovrell. 



136 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

Azei Carpenter enlisted in Company K, First En- 
gineers and Mechanics, Nov. 21, 1861, as artificer. 
Discharged for disability at Nashville, Tenn,, June 3, 
1862. 

Harvey Devereaux enlisted in Company K, First 
Engineers and Mechanics, Nov. 23, 1861. Died of 
disease at Nashville, Teun., Feb. 20, 1863. Buried 
in National Cemetery, Nashville, Tenn. 

Jared L. Cook enlisted as sergeant in Company D, 
JSixth Cavalry, Sept. 5, 1862, Transferred to invalid 
corps, March 31, 1864. Discharged by order, July 
18, 1865. 

Franklin Goodrich enlisted in Company K. First 
Engineers and Mechanics, Nov. 27, 1861. Discharged 
at Naahville, Tenn., May 28, 1862. Reentered ser- 
vice in Company K, Second Infantry, March 26, 
1864. First Sergeant. Discharged at St. Mary's 
Hospital, Detroit, April 26. 1865, by reason of 
wounds received in action. 

Benjamin B. Head, enlisted as teamster in sixth 
Cavalry Oct. 2, 1862. Discharged for disability, 
March 24, 1863. 

Asa McFall enlisted in Battery C. First Light Ar- 
tillery, Oct. 11. 1861. Discharged for disability, 
Feb. 9, 1862. 

Reuben McFall enlisted in Battery C, First Light 
Artillery, Dec. 1, 1861. Died of disease at Luka, 
Miss., Sept. 3, 1862 

George H. Miles enlisted in Battery C, Fi^st Light 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 187 

artillerv, Dec. 8, 1861, Discharged for disability, 
Nov. 6, 1862. 

Allen C, Stearns enlisted in Battery C, First Ar- 
tillery, Dec. 12, 1861. Veteran Dec. 28, 1863. 
Sergeant. Mustered out July 22, 1865. 

Stepher D. Steadman enlisted in Battery H, First 
Light Artillery, Dec, 2, 1861. Discharged for disa- 
bility, February, 1863. 

Peter Cameron enlisted in Company F, Second 
Infantry, March 28, 1864. Mustered out July 20, 
1865 

Franklin Goodrich enlisted in Company K, Second 
Infantry, March 26, 1864. Discharged for disease, 

James Barnhart enlisted in Company G. Seventh 
Infantry, March 3, 1863, Transferred to Invalid 
Corps, Feb. 15, 1864. 

Oliver Lampman enlisted in Company K, First En- 
gineers and Machanics, Nov. 21, 1861. Taken 
prisoner between Huntsville, Ala., and War Force 
Tenn., May 20,1862. Artificer. Dischaged at Colum- 
bus, O., F3b.4, 1863. 

David Wright enlisted in Company B, First En- 
gineers and Mechanics, Dec. 5, 1861, Died Oct. 2, 
1862. Burried in Nathional Cemetery, Nashville, 
Tenn. 

Simon Dolph enlisted in Company B. Eighth Infan- 
try' Feb. 29, 1864. Died in Andersonville prison, 
Aug. 14, 1864, 

Edward A. Hart enlisted in Company A, Tenth 



138 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Infantry, Oct 21, 1861. Discharged July 2, 1862. 

Sherwood Hart enlisted in Company A, Tenth In- 
fantry, Oct. 27, 1861. Died of disease at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., Nov. 17, 1862. 

Hugh McKeever enlisted in Company A, Tenth 
Infantry, Oct. 27, 1861. Discharg^ed for disability, 
June 21, 1862. 

Edward Haney enlisted in Company B, Fourteenth 
Infantry, April 19, 1864. Mustered out July 18, 
1865. 

Peter Malosh enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth 
Infantry, March 23, 1865. Mustered out July 8, 
1865. 

James Barney enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth 
Infantry, March 29, 1865. Mustered out July 8, 1865. 

Charles Moore enlisted in Company G, oixteenth 
Infantry March 28, 1865. Mustered out July 8, 
1865. 

John Carney enlisted in Company I, Sixteenth 
Infantry January 2, 1862. Discharge*^ for disability 
Aug. 24, 1864. 

William Robinson enlisted in Company Q, Six- 
teenth Infantry, March 18, 1865. Mustered out July 
8, 1865. 

George Reed enlisted in Compay I, Sixteenth 
Infantry, Dec. 10, 1861. Dicharged Feb. 18, 1863. 

Stephen D. Harrington enlisted in Company H, 
Twenty third Infantry, Sept. 9, 1862. Mustered 
out June 28, 1865. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 139 

Henry Hagadorn enlisted in Company G, Twenty- 
seventh Infantry, Feb. 10, 1863. Died of disease, 
June 9, 1864. 

William Camp Dell enlisted in Company K, Twenty- 
eighth Infantry, Sept, 22, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 
13, 1865. 

George W. Lincoln enlisted in Company K, Twen- 
t\ -eighth Infantry, Sept. 22, 1864. Died of disease 
at Nashville, Tenn., July 10, 1865. 

William Mershon enlisted in Company E, Twen ty 
eighth Infantry, Sept, 20, 1864. Mustered out June 
13, 1865. 

Aaron Selleek enlisted in Company A, Twentv- 
eighth Infantry, Sept. 12, 1864. Mustered out 
June 5, 1865. 

Myron Simpson enlisted in Company K, Twenty- 
eighth Infantry, as corporal, Sept, 22, 1864. Mus- 
tered out June 6, 1865, 

Palmer G. Tripp enlisted in Company F, Twenty- 
eighth Infantry, Sept. 24, 1864. Mustered out May 
80, 1865. 

Alfred Wright enlisted in Company F, Twenty- 
eighth Infantry, Sept. 26, 1864. Mustered out June 
5, 1865. 

John Walker enlisted in Company K, Twenty- 
eighth Infantry, Sept. 26, 1864. Mustered out June 
5, 1865. 

Leverett J. Wood enlisted in Company H, Twenty- 
eighth Infantry, Aug. 30, 1864. Mustered out June 



140 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

Z, 1865. 

EdwiD A. Burch enlisted in Company B, Second 
Cavalry, Nov. 19, 1863. Killed in action at Oxford, 
Ala.. April 28, 1865. 

Joseph Krozier enlisted in Company E, Second 
Cavalry, Nov. 20, 1863. Mustered out April 22 1865. 
Francis Crandall enlisted in Company E, Seeonil 
Cavalry, Nov. 20, 1863. Mustered out Aug. 17, 1865 
Levi Bush enlisted as buglar in Company K, Tenth 
Cavalry, Sept. 5, 1863. Died of disease at Knoxville, 
Tenn,, Jan. 7, 1865. Buried in Government Cem- 
etery at Knoxville. 

Herbert H. Glass enlisted in Company K, Tenth 
Cavalry, Aug. 29, 1863. Mustered out Nov. 
11, 1865. 

elohn Swanger enlisted in Company K, Tenth 
Cavalry, April 26, 1864, Died of disease in North 
Carolina, Jan. 17, 1865. 

Reuben H, Warren enlisted in Company K, Tenth 
Cavalary, Sept, 9, 1863. Mustered out Nov, 11, 1865. 
Samuel Warring enlisted in Company K, Tenth 
Cavalry, Oct. 16, 1863. Transferred to Veteran Re- 
serve Corps, May 1, 1865. 

Luther H. Frink enlisted in Company I, U, S. 
Sharp Shooters, Dec. 14, 1864. 

Adelbert F. Peavy enlisted from Hamburg, Sept. 
3, 1863, in Company K, Tenth Cavalry. Mustered 
out Nov. 11, 1865. Has lived in Howell nearly all 
the time since the war. 



CHAPTER IX 
In War Times 

The east line of the original plot of the village of 
Howell crosses Grand River street about at Barron & 
Wines' drug store. As previously noted the fight for 
the location of the court house ended in the selection 
of the present square, half of which was tpon land 
donated by P. A. Cowdry and the rest by Edward 
Thompson, 

Mr. Thompson was first to formally plot his ad- 
dition to the village which extended north from the 
line marking the center of the section, which would 
cross Divison street just south of the Wilcox block, 
and the Ann Arbor Railroad at the northeast corner 
of the Rubert lumber yard. The plot was about two 
lotg wide at its eastern side, and four at its western, 
and includefc much @f what is now considered very 
choice residence property. The ("owdry addition in- 
cluded nearly ail the town south of the Thompson 
addition to the Pere Marq tjette Railroad. All the 
eastern portion of the business section of Grand River 
street is on this addition. 

Mr. Cowdry arranged for a second addition to the 
village which was surveyed Nov. 16, 1852. It em- 
braced forty-nine acres between Wetmore street and 



142 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Byron road, and north of Grand River street, 
north west of the original plat. Mr. Cowdry died 
before this addition was adv^anced very far. The 
plat was filed by the administrator of his estate Oct, 

26, 1853. 

Joseph H. Wilcox was the next to enlarge the vil- 
lage. He platted thirty- two lots south of Livingston 
street, near where the Pere Marquette railroad now 
runs. His plat was filed for record Aug. 1, 1867. 

Almon Whipple's first addition was east of the 
Cowdry addition to the old fair ground, and north of 
Grand River street. The ploi is dated on January 

27, 1868. Mr. Whipple's second addition, which was 
platted in the fall of 1871, lies east of that part of 
the Cowdry addition, which is south of Grand River 
street. 

Heirs of George W, Jewett platted sixty- four lots 
south-west of the original village plat, and began sell- 
ing lots in 1868. Their plat was recorded on May 23 
of that year. The tendency of the town to grow to 
the east acted against this addition for years. Its de- 
sirability ha?! come to be more fully realized of late 
and houses are going up there more rapidly. 

The MePherson family caught the general idea 
which prevaded Howell in 1868, that the town was to 
boom, and laid out an addition from Thompson's 
addition north, with Division street as its western 
boundry. Aug, 24, 1874 they followed with a sec 
ond addition east of their first, to Thompson's lake. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 143 

During 1874 they also plotted their two Prospect 
Place addition's. The first of these is north of 
Grand River street and west of the Byron Road; 
the second embraces a small territory south of Grand 
River street, opposite the first. 

Garden's addition embraces the land between 
McPherson's Second Prospect place addition and the 
original plot. 

In 1875 T. W, Mizner platted the hill south east of 
town which he named Washington Heights addition. 
It contrins nineteen blocks. Quite a number of 
houses have been built there but it is largely vacant 
as j^et. 

Fredrick J. Lee and L. S. Montague platted a 
small tract in the south eastern portion of town, be- 
tween Cowdry's and other additions in that part, and 
it became Lee and Montague's addition. 

In 1871 Alexander and William McPherson platted 
an addition west of Pinekney road and south of the 
Pere MarDuette railmad Joseph B. Skilbeck platted 
an addition which was recorded May 30. 1874. It 
included quite a tract east of Pinekney road and 
south of the Pere Marquette railroad. Quite a set- 
tlement grew up on these additions but it did not 
become a part of the corperation of Howell until the 
granting of the last village charter bv the Legisla- 
ure in 1891. Thej' are in Marion township. 

There is quite a large tract in the northwestern 
part of town, including the milk factory and resi- 



144 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

dence lots near there, which has never been platted 
and is still described by metes and bounds when 
transfers occur. 

By act of the State Legislature approved March 
14, 1863, "all that tract of country situated in the 
township of Howell, in the County of Livingston, in 
the state of Michigan, which is known and discribed 
as follows, to wit: section 35, section 36, the south 
half of section 25 and the south half of section 26, in 
township No. 3 north, of range No. 4 east, be and the 
same is hereby made and constituted a town corporate, 
by the name, style and title of the village of Howell" 

The first charter election was held May 4, 1863. 
Sardias F. Hubble was the first village president; 
Andrew D. Waddell, recorder; Asa VanKleek, 
treasurer; John H. Galloway, assessor; Marcus B. 
Wilcox, William R. Melvin, V/illiam McPherson Jr., 
John Hoyt and Philo Curtis were the trustees. 
Up to 1870 the village officers elected w^re as foUows: 

1864— President, pJoseph M. Gilbert; Recorder, 
Mylo L. Gay; Treasurer, Frederick J. Lee; Assessor. 
John H, Galloway; Trustees, John Cummiskey, 
Nathan T. Hickey, George L. Clark, Luther M. 
Glover, V. R. T. Angel. 

1865— President, Sardis F, Hubbell; Recorder, 
Mylo L. Gay; Treasurer, Frederick J. Lee; Assessor, 
John H. Galloway; Trustees, James Bowers, William 
R. Melvin, George L. Clark, William E. Huntley, 
Marcus B. Wilcox. 



_ >^^ 




Soldiers Monument 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 145 

1866— President, Mylo L. Gay; Kecorder, James 
Bowers; Treasurer, William R. Melvin; Assessor, 
Isaac W. Bush; Trustees, George Taylor, John Jones 
William E. Huntley, Frederick J. Lee, Sardius F. 
Hubbell. 

1867— President, Sardus F. Hubbell; Recorder, 
Joseph T. Titus; Treasurer, William R. Griffith; 
Assessor, Orrin H. Winegar; Trustees, Andrew D. 
Waddell, William R. Melvin, Leander C. Smith, 
William E. Huntley, Geo. S. Clark. 

1868 President, Andrew D. Waddell; Recorder, 
Mylo L. Gay; Treasurer, R. H. Rumsey; Assessor, 
Oren H. Winegar; Trustees Leander C, Smith, Wil- 
liam E. Huntley, (reorge L. Clark, Alexander Mc- 
Pherson, Henry H. Harmon. 

1869. — President, Mvlo L. Gay; Recorder, Joseph 
T. Titus; Treasurer, Roj^al H. Rumsey; Assessor, 
Orrin H, Winegar; Trustees, William E. Huntley, 
Edward McGunn, Sylvester Andrews, Henry P. 
Wheeler, Levi D. Smith, 

Our readers will remember the story of Howell's 
first school house built in 1837, which is yet stand- 
ing. This school house was never satisfactory to 
the district and in 1845 it was sold. The old Presby- 
terian church was rented for school purposes for 
awhile as was the "academy building" which stood 
nearly where the Republican block now stands. It 
was three years before the location of a school house 
was determined, after the old one was sold. The 



146 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

fight on this question was one of the most stubbornly 
contested of any which Howell has ever seen. Five 
different committees were appointed at as many 
school meetings. The northwest corner of the old 
public square, near where the Knapp shops now 
stand, the site of the Methodist church and other 
sites in that neighborhood were chosen at various 
times by the committees, only to be turned down 
by s<^hool meetings. The present site of the Central 
School was finally adopted Dec. 12, 1848. A two 
story brick building 38x48 feet in size was at first 
determined upon but the opposition called this a 
"Castle" and on Feb, 29, 1849, succeeded in getting 
the size cut down to 26x36 feet. Promoters of the 
larger building kept up their contention and were ju- 
bilant when in 1850 it became necessary to rent more 
room. In 1851 it was voted to enlarge the building 
but it was not brought about until 1856. This too soon 
proved inadequate and in 1866, Sardiis F- Hubbell 
offered a resolution in the annual school meeting, 
which resulted in the erection of the splendid build- 
ing which is now occupied by the Central School, 

The bonds provided for erection of the Central 
school building were for $15,000 at seven per cent, 
$1,000 of principal to be paid annually. The building 
committee selected was H. C. Briggs, SardiasF. Hub- 
bell, Wm. McPherson Sr., J. I. VanDeusen and 
Joseph M. Gilbert. 

This eommittee went over plans and decided the 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 147 

amount to be too small for the purpose so nothiug 
more was done until after the next school meeting 
when $5,000 more was voted. The <iontract was let 
to R. B. Rice of Detroit, for $15,650 with $700 addi- 
tional for finishing the third story which was not con- 
templated at first. In addition to this the district 
furnished brick and other materials from the old 
building and quite an amount in addition to that. 

By the time the building was finished and ready for 
use, which was for the winter term of 1869, the total 

cost was $31,000, 

It may be interesting in this connection to speak 

of teachers in the old building. The old records are 

defective but as nearly as they can be learned the 

principals were as f0llows: 

W. Mills, 1849-50; John S. Dixon, 1850-52; 8eth 
Beden, 1853-54; J. 8. Houston, 1855-56; F. W. 
Munson, 1857; L. Barnes, 1858-59 D. Cramer, 
1859-60; Charles W. Bowen, 1860-62; Rufus T, 
Bush, 1862-63; Michael McKernan, 1863-65; 8. 8. 
Babcock, 1865-66; Joshua 8. Lane, 1866-67; L. 8. 
Montague 1867 for twenty weeks iTiitil the old build- 
ing was torn down. 

There were several steps toward a graded school 
during the nineteen years the old building was ustsd. 
The greatest of these steps was made during the 
administration of Prof. Bush who prepared the first 
course of study. 

Since moving into the present building superinten- 



148 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

dents have been as follows: S. S. Babeoek, 1869-70 
T. C. Garner, 1870-73; M. W. Schreeb, 1873-74 
W. Carey Hill, 1874-77; Elihii B. Fairfield, 1877-80 
Geo. Barnes, 1880-88; S. G. Burkhead, 1888-90 
W. H. Hawks, 1890-94; R. D. Briggs, 1894-99; W. 
D. Sterling, 1899-1901; H. E. Aguew, 1901-02 
J. K. Osgerby, 1902-1908; Fred FuUerton, 1908. 

E. D Galloway graduated in 1869 and was the 
first from the Howell schools. The total number of 
garduates to date is 526 of whom twenty-two were in 
the last class. Thorough work has always character- 
ized the schools and this fact has attracted a large 
list of foreign pupils. The High School ^^ow num- 
bers about 150 of whom over half are foreign stu- 
dent?. The total school enrollment is now 595. 
The total cost of running the schools last year was 
$12,561 of which $8,457 was for teachers' salaries. 
The schools received $1,144.37 for tuition of foreign 
pupils last year. 

Howell has always recognized the importance of a 
good school board, and elected its best citizens to 
membership there. The present board with time of 
service of each, is as follows: Thomas Gordon Jr. 20 
years; W. P. Van Winkle, 16 years; E. A. Stowe, 8 
years; Lyman Thompson, 1 year; Dr. 0. E. Skinner, 
1 year. E. K. Johnson and E, C. Shields, who re- 
tired from the board at the last school meeting, had 
both served for several years. 

The present corps of teachers is as follows; Super 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 149 

intendent, Fred Fullerton, mathematics; Grace Bai- 
ley, science; Alma Sharp, Greek and Latin; Lois 
Bach, English; Lillian Andrews, session and librar- 
ian; Alice Johnson, German and History; Kate Ru- 
en, music and drawing. Eighth grade, Leona Mor- 
ton; Sixth and Seventh grades, Mae Marshall and 
Carolyn Pierson; Fourth and Fifth grades, Mable 
Woodward and Bessie Lane; Second and Third 
grades, Blanche Crandle, Alma Hetchler and Mary 
Itsell ; Beginners and First grade, Goldie Holt, Susie 
Barron and lone Parker. 

Ill 1886 the Central building had become so crowded 

that the basement had been utalized for school rooms, 

a condition which was not admired by parents of 

children who were quartered there. Everone agreed 

that a new building was a necessity but the question 

of location was a source of much division. It was 

settled a year later, by the agreement to build two 

four room buildings. The east ward building was 

erected in 1888 and Miss Emma Lamb who had taught 

for several years in the Central building, became the 

first principal there. The total cost of the building 

was $4,867.85. not including grading, side walks, 

wells, out building, etc. The VN'est Ward building 

was erected in 1890 and cost a few dollars more than 

the East Ward building. 

Inl863 a young man named Embury, who had just 
graduated from a business college at Fen ton, was 
backed by his father to come to Howell and start a 



150 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

bank. He was associated with other gentlemen un- 
der the firm name of Brockwav Embury & Co. and 
their bank was called the Exchange. The j^oung gen- 
tleman led a very fast life here and is remembered 
by older settlers for his himting outfit, high blooded 
hounds, etc. It did not take him a great while to 
run through with his property and he soon passed off 
the scenes here. This bank was started in a building 
about where H. K. White & Co. are now doing busi- 
ness. In 1865 the building now occupied by the 
McPherson bank w^as erected for its use. 

As previously detailed in this history, Alex. Mc- 
Pherson & Co. opened a bank in a small office par- 
titioned in one corner of the building which stood 
where Parker's drugstore now stands, in 1865. In 
1868 this bank purchased the building, fixtures aud 
business of the Exchange bank and has done busi- 
ness there since that time. 

About a year ago a former resident of Howell who 
had occasion to travel across the pine barrens of 
Northern Michigan found Embury there, struggling 
for a mere existance on one of those sandy forties. 
After an exchange of stories of the old life in How- 
el, Embury said: '"Now I'm up here on forty acres of 
land trying to raise white beans to live on. There's 
one thing I've got to console myself. I lived while 

I lived." 

Had John Weimeister died a month before he did, 
his name would have gone down in history, as one of 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 151 

the most aggressive and public spirited citizens, who 
has ever boosted for Howell. Born in Germany, in 
1824, h*^ came to this country in 1854. His first bus- 
iness enterprise was a boot, shoe and grocery store in 
Genoa, where what has long been known as the 
"Dutch Grocery" now stands. Later he ran the 
mills at Oak Grove. In 1863 he associated himself 
with Neil O'Hearn, and they opened a bank in How- 
ell. Mr. Weimeister at once commenced the erection 
of the block which long bore his name and which in- 
cludes Hotel Livingston and the Whitacre building 
just east, which was their bank building. Several 
other buildings about town are monuments to his en- 
terprise. Among them is the building which was oc- 
cupied by A. J. Prindle's department store for many 
years. In this building the firm of Weimeister & 
O'Hearn ran a large general store during a good 
part of the '*ime they did business together. Along 
in the '8()s his health gave way and when the crisis 
came after the dissolution of the old firm of Weimeis- 
ter & O'Hearn, which occurred August 14, 1889, and 
he had associated his son Albert with him in business 
the condition of his health prevented that activity 
which would have saved the financial crash, and the 
doors of his various Vmsiness enterprises were closed. 
His failure came like a thunderbolt to the community 
and was followed in about ten days by his death, 
Thursday, October 3, 1889. 

Mr. Weimeister' s property was invested largely in 



152 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

real estate, which went at very low prices at the 
forced sale and the various creditors, including bank 
depositors, were heavy looser s. 

When Edward P. Gregrory was nine months old 
his father the late Rev. Edward E. Gregory built 
a house which is now a part of the house in which 
Mr. Gregory has his office, and the family became 
residents of Howell village. 

As a young man Mr. Gregory studied law with 
Wilcox & Waddell and took lectures at the State 
University. He was examined and admitted with 
Dennis Shields, For a year he practiced law at Cor- 
unna and would probably have continued in that line 
but for the changes brought about by the war, and 
the fact that he became part of the provost marshal's 
force in the sixth congressional district, with head 
quarters at Flint. 

When the war closed Mr. Gregory returned to How- 
ell and formed a partnership with F. N. Monroe in 
the hardware business, under the firm name of Mon- 
roe & Gregory. Soon after engaging in business the 
firm bought the building which occupied the site at 
the corner of Grand River and State streets, where 
they continued until 1872 when Mr, Gregory sold his 
interests to Mr. Monroe who continued the Dusiness 
until the big fire of March 12, 1887, when the build- 
ing and stock were the first of the many burned. 
A year or so after that Mr. Monroe moved to the up- 
per peninsula. 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 153 

After retiring from the hardware business Mr. 
Gregory engaged in real estate. He also served the 
town as justice of the oeace for eight years, when 
he was identified with the movement in the erection 
of the milk factory in 1892 and became superinten- 
dent there. He held this position for nine years, 
four of which he was also superintendent of the 
Lansing factory. During his superintendency the 
business of the Howell factory was developed from 
nothing to seventy-five tons of milk per day. 

Since leaving the factory Mr. Gregory has built up 
an excellent herd of Holsteins upon his farm, looked 
after his real estate and loaning interests and secured 
what enjoyment he could from life. In an interview 
recently he said "I am approaching the allotted years 
of man. I have enjoyed my life and I have never 
seen a time when nature looked brighter. The song 
of the birds never sounded sweeter. My friends are 
dearer to me than they ever were before.'' 

At various times Mr. Gregary bCrved as township 
clerk, councilman, village president and circuit court 
commissioner. He has always been a leading worker 
and held official positions in the Presbyterian church. 
He was chairman of the citizens committee whieh se- 
cured *he Sanitorium for Howell and has always been 
an energetic and loyal citizen for the town. He has 
often been tendered high political positions but hag re- 
fused them. His candidacy for elector to vote for 
Taft and Sherman, was over his protest. 



154 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

The "Know Nothing" movement or Naiive Ameri- 
can Partv as it called itself, grew up along in the 
'50s, in the form of secret lodges. Its existence in 
Howell was not generally known until early in the 
60' s, when the lodge was occupying a hall in the sec- 
ond story of the building where Parker's drug 
store is now. At that time the entrance to the sec- 
ond story was by way of a stairway which led up to 
a porch on the front. There was also a stairway at 
the back end of the building. The strength of the 
"Know Nothings" became an important one in that 
political campaign and Gporp^e Wilber undertook to 
find out by counting how many men went up 
to their meeting. In some wav it got to the men of 
the organization what was going on and a plan was 
quickly fixed up so that the members would go up 
the front stairway and then down the rear way. 
They would then walk around a block or two and go 
up again. Wilber's count ran up into the hundreds 
aud the strength of Howell's lodge of "Know Noth- 
ings" not only scared local politicians but got to the 
ears of state political workers who were set very 
much to wondering if the new party had as many 
followers in other towns. It was not until after elec- 
tion and the new party showed up with only a small 
vote that the affair leaked out in detail. 

Mr, Wilber seems to have been a regular pessimest. 
He ardently opposed all railroad agitation with the 
argument that there would not be enough people who 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 155 

could afford to travel between here and Detroit, to 
pay expenses He predicted that at the greater ex- 
pense for running the railroad they would have to 
charge so much more than the stage coaches that 
they wouldn't carry as many passengers as were then 
riding on those vehicles. 

John W. Wright built the first planing mill 
in How^ell in 1869, on Clinton street between Center 
and Walnut streets. It was burned April 27, 1875. 
Mr. Wright soon after built the planing mill south 
of the Pere Marquette railroad, which is still managed 
by his son Frank Wright. 

Along in the '60s Howell citizens began to make 
themselves felt in the political world. George W. 
Lee was a presidential elector in 1860. John H. Gal- 
loway was State Senator in 1861, and William A. 
Clark in 1863. Henry H. Harmon was Representa- 
tive in the State Legislature in 1863, and Milo L. 
Hay m 1869. 

Dennis Shields was born Sept. 19, 1836 and came 
to Howell early in 1859. Re studdied law with H. 
H. Harmon aod vras admitted to the bar Dee. 31, 
I86I1 settling in How^ell for the practice of that pro- 
fession. He rapidly advanced and for several years, 
there were very few cases of importance which weie 
tried in this county, in which he was not upon one 
side or the other. His popularity is attested by the 
fact that at eight different times h'^ was elected prose 
cuting attorney. He was president of the village at 



156 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

one time and served in several other official j-ositions. 
In 1872 he formed a partnership with John C. Shields, 
which lasted for three years. During all his life Mr. 
Shields was a leader for all laudable public enterprises . 
a good citizen in the community. He died Aug. 30, 
1898. 

Edmund C. Shields, his son was admitted to prac- 
tice in 1896 and his brother Francis J. Shields was 
admitted in November, 1898. They succeded to the 
practice of their father which they have maintained 
and buiit up, under tne firm name of Shields & 
Shields. 

Another who settled in Howell about the same 
time as Mr. Shields, was 11. G. Briggs who arrived 
here in 1856. Soon after comiug Mr. Brigsfs engaged 
in the jewelry business which he followed until his 
death, a few years ago, earning thf^ title which he 
carried for several years of the pioneer jeweler. 

Mr. Briggs was strong in argument and for sever*il 
years was one of the leading speakers for the Repub- 
lican narty, in every political campaign in this county. 

Asa VanKIecii came to Howell in 1853 and worked 
as contractor and carpenter, considerable of the time 
some years, with Frank Kelly. When the Presby- 
terian church was built, they bought the old church 
and used it for some years as their shop. In 1863 
Mr. VanKleek formed a partnership with George L, 
Sage under the firm name of Sage & VanKleek, and 
started a grocery store. This firm lasted but a short 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 157 

time when Mr. VauKleeck tried farming on the old 
Charles P. Bush farm in Genoa. In 1883 he purchased 
the furniture stock of Wm. Griffith after that gentle- 
man's death. He continued in the furniture business 
until about five years ago, when he sold that busi- 
ness to Schnackenberg Bros, who added undertaking 
to the line. When the First State and Savings Bank 
was organized he became a director, a position which 
he has continued to hold. He has been vice nresi- 
dent of the bank since the death of Charles Curtis, 

A list of persons who have held offices is given be- 
low, but it is incomplete for the y3ars between 1836 
and 1850, for the reason that the old township record 
covering those years has been lost or destroyed, and 
onl^ a partial and defective list of officers elected 
during that period has been gathered from other 
sources. Such as are given, however, are known to 
be authentic, viz: 

1837.— Supervisor. John W. Smith; Town Clerk, 
Jonathan Austin; Justices of the Peace, George W, 
Kneeland, John W. Smith. 

1838. — Supervisor, Rial Lake; Town Clerk, Johu 
W.Smith; Justices of the Peace, John T. Watson, 
Odell J. Smith, Wellington A. Glover. 

1839. — Town Cleik, Morris Thompson; Justice of 
the Peace, Allen C. Weston. 

1840. — Town Clerk, Morris Thompson; Justice of 
the Peace, Gardner Wheeler. 

1841. — Town Clerk, Morris Thompson; Justice of 
the Peace, John W. Smith. 



158 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

1842. — Supervisor. George W. Kneeland; Town 
Clerk, M. S. Brennan; Justice of the Peace, Josiah 
Turner. 

1843. — Supervisor, (Jeorge W. Kneeland; Justice 
of the Peace, Odell J. Smith, 

1844.— Supervisor, Rial Lake; Town Clerk, Gard- 
ner Wheeler; Justice of the Peace, James H. Acker- 
son; Treasurer, William McPherson; School Inspec- 
tor, Edward E. Gregory; Directors of the poor, De- 
rastus Hinmon, Vicrory Curtis. 

1845,— Supervisor, Odell J. Smith; Town Clerk, 
Gardner Wheeler; Justice of the Peace, John W. 
Smith, Nelson G. Isbell; (to fill vacancy caused by 
resignation of Josiah Turner). 

184^). — Supervisor, Gardner Wheeler; Town Clerk, 
Lauren K. Hewett; Justice of the Peace, William 
]jewis. 

1847.— Supervisor, Odeli J. Smith; Town Clerk, L. 
K. Rewett; Justice of the Peace, Richard B. Hall, 
Samuel M. Yerkes (to fill vacancy). 

1848, — Supervisor, Frederick C. Whipple; Town 
Clerk, D. D. T. Chandler; Justice of the Peace, Lau- 
ren K. Ilewett, George W. Kneeland (to fill vacancy) 
1849. — Supervisor, William McPherson; Town^ 
Clerk. Henry H. Harmon: Justice of the Peace, John 
W. Smith. 

1850. — Supervisor Gardner Wheeler; Clerk, Henry 
II. Harmon; Treasurer John B. Kneeland; Justice 
of the Peace, He^ry Lake; Commissioner of high- 



HISTORY OF HOWELL L59 

ways, Edward Thompson; School Inspector, John A. 
Wheeler; Directors of the Poor, Richard P. Bush, 
Josiah TurLfir, 

1851. — Supervisor, Derastus Hinman; Clerk, John 

A, Wheler; Treasurer, John B Kneeland; Justices of 
the Peace, John H- Galloway (full term), William 
More (to fill vacancy) ; Highway Commissioner, David 
Carl; School Inspector, Gardner Wheeler; Directors 
of the Poor, James M, Murray, William L. Wells. 

1852. — Supervisor, Richard P. Bush; Clerk. Mylo 
L. Gay; Treasurer, John B. Kneeland; Justices 
of the Peace, Gardner Wheeler (full term), William 
Moore (to fill vacancy); Highway Commisioner, 
Elisha H. Smith; School Inspector, William A, Clark; 
Directors of the Poor, John D- Gifford, Josiah Turner. 

1853.— Supervisor, Richard P. Bush; Clerk, Mylo 
L. Gay; Treasurer, John B. Kneeland; Justice of 
the Peace, L. K. Hewett; Highway (Commissioner, 
Samuel M. Yerkes; School Inspector, Gardner 
Wheeler. 

1854. — Supervisor. Gardner Wheeler; Clerk, Mylo 
L. Gay; Treasurer, John B. Kneeland; Justice 
of the Peace, William More; Highway Commissioner, 
Daniel Case; School Inspector, William A. Clark. 

1855, — Supervisor, Willim C. Ramsey; Clerk, Mylo 
L. Gay; Treasurer, John B. Kneeland; Justice of the 
Peace, Odell J . Smith ; Commissioner of Highways, 
Dexter Filkins, Wm. Lake- School Inspector, Wm. 

B. Jewett. 



160 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

1856. — Supervisor, William H. Rumsey; Clerk, E. 
RoUin Bascum ; Justice of the Peace, Mylo L. Gay; 
Treasurer, Nathan Pond; Highway Commissioner, 
Charles Koot; School Inspector, George P. Root. 

1857. — Supervisor, John B. Kneeland; Clerk, E. 
Rollin Bascom; Treasurer* Andrew Blanck; Justice 
of the Peace, baniel Case; Highway Commissioner, 
David Lewis; School Inspector, John Huston. 

1858. — Supervisor, John H. Galloway; Clerk, Henry 
C. Briggs; Treasurer, John W. Richmond; Jurtice 
of the Peace, Andrew D. Waddell; Highway Com- 
missoner, Dexter J, Pilkins; School Inspector, B, 
Howard Lawson (full term), William B. Jewett (to 
fill vacancy.) 

1859. — Supervisor, John H. Galloway; Clerk, E. 
Rollin Bascom; Treasurer, John W. Richmond; Jus- 
tice of the Peace, John Marr; Highway Commissioners 
Charles Root, Stephen S. More; School Inspector, J, 
A. Pond. 

I860.— Supervisor, John H. Galloway; ('lerk E 
Rollin Bascum; Treasurer, John W. Richmond; Jus- 
tice of the Peace, Mylo L. Gay (full term), William 
Lake (tc fill vacancy); Highway Commissioner, 
Stephen S. More; School Inspei^tor, Andrew Blanck. 

1861. — Supervisor, William C, Rumsey; Clerk. E, 
Rollin Bascom; Treasurer, Henry C. Brigers; Justice 
of the Peace, Daniel Case; School Inspector, Jabez 
A, Pond; Highway Commissioner, Solomon Hilde- 
brant. 



I 
o 

m 



O 

X 

> 

TJ 

5 




HISTORY OP HOWELL 161 

1862.— Supervisor, William C. Rumsey; Clerk E. 
Rollin Bascom; Treasurer, Giles Tucker; Justice of 
the Peace, Dennis Shields; Highway Commissioner, 
(reorge Wakefield; School Inspector, Henry H. Har- 
mon (full term), J. Bruce Fishbeek (vacancy.) 

1863.— Supervisor, Giles Tucker; Clerk, E. Rollin 
Bascom; Treasurer, Leonard B. Wells; Justice of the 
Peac-:, William Lake (full term), William More (va- 
cancy; Highway Commissioners, Stephen More George 
Wakefield; School Inspectors, Ebenezer Bunnell (full 
term), George Wilber, (vacancy). 

1864.— Supervisor, Giles Tucker; Clerk, E. Rollin 
Bascom; Treasurer, Leonard B. Wells; Justice of 
the Peace, Mylo L. Gay; Highway Commissioner, 
Solomon Hildebnr^t; School Inspectors, Elijah F. 
Burt (full term), IVunis Shields (vacancy) 

1865. — Supervisor, Alm-^n Whippl*^; Clerk, E. Rol- 
lin Bascom (died during this term, which was com- 
pleted by Wallace W. Carpenter) ; Justice of the 
Peace, Daniel Case; Treasurer, Leauord B. Wells; 
School Inspectors W. W. Carpenter (full term), 
Dennis Shields (vacancy). 

1866 — Supervisor, Isaac W. Bush; Clerk, Royal 
li. Rumsey; Treasurer, Lorenzo B. Sullivan; Jus- 
tice of the Peace, Wallace W. Carpenter; Highway 
Commissioner, Stephen S. More; School Inspector, 
Dennis Shields 

1867 — Supervisor, Oren H, Winegar; Clerk, Royal 
11 Rumsey; Treasurer, Elbert H. Bush; Justice of 



162 HISTOiiY OF HOWELL 

tht Peace, Frederick H, Wbipple; Highway Oommi«- 
ioner, Solomon Hiidebrant; School Inspector, Wal- 
lace W. Carpenter 

1868 — Supervisor, Oreii H. Winegar; Clerk, Henry 
T. Clark; Treasuier, Elbert C. Bush; Justice of the 
Peace, Nicholas? Lake; Highway Commissioner, Jesse 
Marr; School Inspector, Philander Bennett. 

1869— Supervisor, O. H. Winegar; Clerk, Royal 
H. Rumsey; Treasurer, William B. Smith; -Justice 
•f the Peace, William More; Highway Commissioner, 
S. S. More; School Inspector, Ferdinand W, Mnnson. 



CHAPTER X 
Midst Blessings of Peace 

On July 4, 1871, a meeting was held at the Melvin 
House, to organize a Pioneer Society. After discuss- 
ing the proposition, an adjournment was taken to M. 
L. Gay's office in the rooms which are now Tidings 
office. William C. Rumsey was elected (ihairman and 
M. L. Gay, secretary. A committee was selected to 
draft a constitution and bylaws, and arrangements 
were made for a public meeting, which was addressed 
by Judge Turner at the Court House, on Wednesday 
fe^vening, September 27, 1871. The committee failed 
to have its constitution ready, but M, L. Gay had an- 
ticipated such a situation, and prepared one which 
was adopted. It provided that all persons, who were 
residents of the county previous to July 4, 184.1, were 
pioneers, and elligible to membership. At the annual 
meeting in 1877, this was changed to 1850, and im 
1880, it was changed so that all who resided in the 
county previous to 1855, Wv-re considered as pioneers, 
and entitled to membership. 

In 1871, A. G. Blood & Company started a five col 
uran quarto weekly newspaper, which they named the 
Howell Independent. It never paid expenses, and af- 
ter ninf* months, was sold to J. D. Smith and Charles 
E. Cooper. Mr. Smith took part of the material t% 



164 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

the Republican office. Mr. Cooper continued the pa- 
per for a couple of months longer, and then gave it 
up. 

In the early '60s, William McPherson & Sens de- 
veloped a merchant tailoring department, in which, 
in 1874, George Hornung was employed, and in 
which Arthur Garland became cutter, aboui a year la- 
ter. This department did quit^ a lit^^le manufactur- 
ing for the clothing store of the firm. In 3879, Mes- 
srs. Garland and Hornung, then young men, formed 
a partnership and bought the denartment in which 
they were employed. By energy and skill, they suc- 
ceeded in building up a large business with two or 
three men on the road, and their' s soon became th« 
leading industry of the town. In fact, there has been 
no time since they first went into business, but that 
the tailors, whom they employed, formed one of the 
largest bodies of working people in Howell. 

After some years, Owen W. Kellogg, who was an 
experienced clothing salesman with William McPher- 
son & Sous, entered the partnership with Garland & 
Hornung, the new firm being named, Kellogg, Gar- 
land & Company, and a stock of ready made clothing 
was put in. Mr, Garland withdrew from this firm in 
1892, after which it was known as Kellogg & Hor- 
nung, continuing for another year. Mr. Hornung 
then engaged in merchant tailoring in his own name, 
and has done a prosperous business for the past fif- 
teen years. Mr. Kellogg went west. 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 165 

After withdrawing from the old firm, Mr. Garland 
engaged in merchant tailoring, in which he has built 
up a large trade. In addition to his store here, he 
maintains one at Jackson and several agencies in the 
west, doing all the manufacturing in Howell. He al- 
so ran a macintosh factory here, for some years. 

Thirteen years ago, Mr, Garland purchased the Op- 
era House, which he has since managed, He became 
a partner in the Bennett Hardware Oompanj-, which 
bought out Benedict & Ratz in 1907. 

Howell was visited by (Catholic Priests as early as 
1836 or '37. Rev. Fr. Kelly of Northville, was prob- 
ably the first to hold services in Howell. The erec- 
tion oi country churches not far away, in different di- 
rections probably centered their worshipers there and 
made a long delaj^ before the organization in Howell. 
Along in the '70s Rev. Fr. Daugherty of Brighton, 
who is remembered as an energetic worker, well liked 
by everyone, started the work here and St. Joseph's 
church is the result. The original church, 40x70 
feet in size, was commenced iu August, 1878, and 
completed the following year. It was enlarged and 
greatly improved about six years ago. With the 
comodious rectory and beautiful brick church, the 
society has a fiue property. Under the most efficient 
leadership of Rev. Fr. Thornton, its prospects for a 
growing future are excellent. 

Fobes Grossman came to Howell in the early '50s 
and soon after became a partner with F. J. Lee and 



168 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

Alex. McPherson in tbeir general store. This firm 
lasted but a short time, after which Mr. Grossman 
prospected for business in Detroit, Chicago, St. 
Louis and other places but returned to Howell in 
1858 and formed a partnership with Wm, B. Jewett 
in the general mercantile business. May 1, 1873, 
Mr. Crossmau bought his partner' ^ interests and con- 
tinued the business until his death Dec. 1, 1876. 

In the settlement of his estate Mrs. Orossman who 
was administratrix, sold the business to Frank J. 
Hickey and Charles M. Goodnow. 

Frank J. Hickey was born in New York state and 
came to Howell with his parents, N. J. Hickey and 
wife, when a small boy. When a young man he 
clerked three years for Wm. McPherson and after- 
wards formed a partnership with James B, Wing in 
the grocery business. After some years Mr. Wing 
purchased his interests in that firm and Mr. Hickey 
was out of business at the time of the death of J. P. 
Crossman heretofore noted, and the forming of his 
partnership with Mr. Goodnow. 

Charles A. Goodnow came to Howell in 1875. 
For some time he clerked for Mr. Jewett and later 
for J. F. Crossman. He was in the latter position 
when Mr. Crossman died. 

The firm of Hickey & Goodnow, which was or- 
ganized in 1877 was at once one of the leaders in the 
dry goods line and continued in that position until the 
death oi Mr, Hickey which oceured in the great fire 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 167 

of 1892. Mrs. Hickey and the estate held their interest 
in the business until 1899 when they sold to Hom«r N. 
Beach and the firm has since been known under the 
name of* Goodnow & Beach, their business holding 
ur and increasing as the years go by. 

When the war broke out Birt Parsons of Brighton, 
wa? under age. That made little difference to one 
of his get there qutilities and he skipped out to en- 
eniist. That he found a place in the First Mi'i'higan 
Cavalry a part of Custer's brigade, indicates that he 
was not very long in making up his mind to get in- 
to the great conflict and that he saw something of 
the war in its awful reality. Soon after mustering 
out in 1865, Mr. Parsons became a clerk for Wm. 
McPherson & Sons, where he remained until 1871 

This history has heretofore told the story of the 
pioiicer shoe shop of J. B. Skilbeck one of the first 
in Howell This business developed until in the lat- 
ter '60s it was quite a factorv, located just west of 
the McPherson b tores and employing over twenty men 
When Mr. Skilbeck's son Pearley, became of age, 
he entered the business with his father, the firm be- 
ing known as J. B. Skilbeck & Son. About that 
time^ they purchased the brick building now occupied 
by Sweet's grocery, and moved there. In 1871 Mr. 
Parsons bought an interest in this firm which was 
then known as J. B. Skilbeck & Co. 

About six years later Homer N. Beach united with 
Mr Parsons in buying the Skilbeck interests and the 



168 HISTORY OP HOWELL 

firm became Parsons & Beach. A stock of groceries 
had been added to the shoe line and the factory dis- 
continued some time before this. 

V/hen Mr. Parsons became vice president of the 
Michigan Condensed Milk Co, and went to New York, 
nearly twenty years ago, this hrra was dissolved and 
Mr. Beach continued the business until about the 
time of his partnership with C. A. Goodnow, nine 
years ago, to form the present firm of (ioodnow & 
Beach. 

Feb. 22, 18G0, Howell experienced its second large 
fire. It originated in the foundry and machine shop 
of A. M. Smith & Co. whi(;h was totally de- 
stroyed. Wm. R. Melvin's carriage and blacksmith 
shops and the stage company's barns, owned by E. 
E, Hazzard, were also burned. The total loss was es- 
timated by the Republican at that time, at $16,425 
which was quite a sum for those days and awakened 
the people to the ne^d of some organized method of 
fighting fire. The matter soon took form for March 
6, 1860, a meeting of citizens was held to consider the 
matter. It was nearly ten years however before any- 
thing defina*^e was done. 

January 18, 1868 an ordinance was passed defining 
a certain district down town in which no wooden 
buildings should be erected. This district has been 
changed several times. 

January 24, 1870, a resolution was adopted by the 
(.Common Council providing for the purchase of a hand 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 169 

fire engine known as the Fire King, provided it should 
prove satisfactory, but it did not Four years later, 
on January 3, 1874 the Champion Fire Extinguisher, 
the old chemical engine, was purchased for $2,000, of 
which half was was paid that year and the other half 
the year following. 

Having an engine it became necessary to organize 
a fire company. It was at first composed of the fol- 
lowing members: John Neary, John McCloud, William 
F. Griffith, Patrick Hammill, Thomas Clark, Leonard 
Fishbeck, George Harrington. Perley Skilbeck, Frank 
Ackerman, Frank Archer, Charles G. Jewett, Mark 
Hubert, Homer N. Beach; Theodore Huntley, E. A. 
Young, Thomas McEwen, Henry Wilbur, Peter Clark, 
Biit F. Parsons, Edward Waldron, H. T. Browning, 
Edward Greenaway, F. G. Hickey, H. (r. Sellman, 
William Beattie, George L. Clark, G. IS. Burgess, K, 
H. Brown, Cassius Austin and Thorns G. Switzer. 

The first fire company was organized by electing 
the following officers: 

Foreman, John Neary; First Assistant Foreman, 
Thomas Clark; Second Assistant Foreman, Edward 
Waldron; Pipeman, R. H. Brown; Second Pipeman, 
John McCloud; Superintendent of Chemicals, E. A. 
Young; Assistant Superintendent of Chemicals, Henry 
Wilber; Secretary, William F. Griffith; Treasurer, 
Patrick Hammill. 

Over a year later, May 24, 1875, the Council took 
action for a suitable house for the fire engine and 



170 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

company. The lot was purchased for $875, of Wm. 
McPherson & Sens, and the building was erected by 
Frank Kelly for $2,917.52. 

It is worthy of note that this building was only 
what was considered necessary for use of the fire 
department at that time, with the addition of a Coun- 
cil Koom. Since then the department's facilities 
have doubled and more; the street commissioner's 
tools and supplies are stored in the building; the 
electrical shop has driven the fire department out of 
its hall for meeting purposes; and several other 
tings have found a headquarters there. The result 
of this crowding has developed a feeling on the part 
of the department that it is not properly appreciated 
and its condition is one dangerously near disorgani- 
zation. As no ground can be purchased for an addi- 
tion to the present building, there is a growing senti- 
ment for the sale of the present building and rhe 
erection of a new one adequate for present needs. 

The erection of the water works system in 1894 
made a complete revolution in the d*^partment's equip- 
ment. It still keeps the chemical engine however, 
for use in cwo or three districts which are not yet 
reached by the water mains, 

Charles G. Jewett is a Howell production. Un- 
til about four years ago he slept in the room where 
he was born. Descendant of a pioneer 

famil)'' he has seen Howell's developement 
and has always been a leader along the line of 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 171 

its improvement. Nov. 1, 1870, Mr. Jewett became 
a Hov^eli businessman by the purchase of the old 
Andrews & Winans hardwaie. Two years later he 
built the block whieh long: bore his name but is now 
known by the name of Goodnow. 

About twelve years ago he moved his business to 
the Cros«man buildins: whieh he occupied for about 
eigrht years. Four years ago he left the general hard- 
ware trade to engage in plumbing and steam fitting 
in whieh he is a heavy contractor and a leading mem- 
ber of the state association He has done the work 
in his liLe at the State Sanitorium. A year ago he 
added electrical supplies to that line and is now en- 
joying a large business with a number of regular 
employees. 

As heretofor noted the Howell post office was 
established Jan. 15, 1836, Flavir.s J. B. Crane was 
the first postmaster and the post office was in the 
Eagle Hotel. 

Ely Barnard was appointed to the office June 18, 
1839, He first located the office in the building near 
where Schroeder's hardware now stands, but later 
moved to E. F. Gay's store. John Curtis was his 
deputy and conducted the office, 

Almon Whipple was appointed Feb. 9, 1841. He 
held the office four months and continued it in the 
Gay store. 

Wellington A Glover was appointed May 31, 1841, 
»nd continued the office in the Gay store. S. P. 



172 HISTORY OF HOWEIX 

Hiibbell then a law student, acted as his deputy, 

Almon Whipple was re-appointed Sept. 1, 1843, 
and moved the office to his store on the sit« now 
occupied by the Detroit Mercantile Co, 

George W. Lee became postmaster April 14, 1849, 
and located the office in Lee Bros, store, on the sit« 
now occupied by Monroe Bros. 

Derastus Hinman was appointed June 7, 1853, and 
moved the office to his store on the south side of 
Grand River street. 

Frack Wells was appointed postmaster Feb, 25, 
1855. His office was in a drug: store a few dtors 
east of where Tidings now is. 

Leander C. Smith was appointed March 16, 1861. 
For four years he maintained the post office in the 
Lee store where Monroe Brothers now are. He then 
moved the office to the site now occupied by the Por 
ter Clothing Co. 

Henry T. Clark was appointed March 8, 1866, and 
rea])pointed June 1, 1868. He continued the office 
where Mr. Smith had kept it until the building was 
])urMe(l, and then moved to a building where Hotel 
LiviniL»ston now stands. 

William W. Kenjon became postmaster August 20, 
1 S68 , and was re-appointed December 1 0, 1878 . Under 
h.is management the office was elevated to the presi- 
deuli.'il class. Mr. Kenyon at tirst maintained the 
(>ifK'<» (HIP door west of the McPherson store. He 
ni(»\'ed from there to the site now occupied by Mar- 



HISTORY OF liOWELJ. 17:^ 

vin's jewelry store, later to tlie Oardell ])l<)ck, and 
still later to the store now occupied by Scluiackeii 
berg Brothers. 

Julius D. Smith became postmaster Dec, 14, LsTT. 
He moved the office to the site now occupied by Mv<, 
Williams' millinery store. 

When Charles E. Beurmann became postmaster 
December 15, 1881, quite a struj^fgle was on as to 
whether "Peanut Eow'' as the buildings facing State 
Street were called, should keep the office. Mr, Beur- 
mann had leased the Greenaway building and paid 
$25 of rent, on condition that he received the ap- 
pointment. When thi-s became known the "Peanut 
Row" forces worked hard against his appointment. 
So confident were they that Mr. Beurmann w^nild not 
receive the appointment that Mr, Greenaway leased 
his store to Henry P. Spencer's dru^ store and 
Charles H. Brown's jewelry store. They were hardly 
settled however before the appointment came and 
they had to move out. 

Isaac W. Bush was appointed postmaster January 
20, 1886, and moved the office back to "Peanut Row." 
The big fire spoiled thatplace and he then moved to the 
room now occupied by the bar room of Hotel Livings- 
ton. The old fight for "Peanut Row" was com- 
promised by Dr. W. J. Mills building a new buikiing 
especially for the post office, where the Livingston 
Democrat has been since its present management tooK 
charge. Mr. Bush moved the office there 



174 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

January 16, 1890, Thomas G. Svvitzer sucoeedfcl 
Mr, Bush and soon aftei moved the office to the room 
now occupied by Goodnow & Beech. After the 
second bisf fire, Mr. Goodnow desired to occupy his 
old quarters and the post office was moved to the 
Opera House block. 

Henry D. Wilber became postmaster March 9, 1894, 
and moved to the store now occupied by the Whipple 
saloon. During the latter part of his administra- 
tion Geor;>e Barnes >ecured a contract with the gov- 
ernment for a lt='ase in the present quarters, and 
erected his building with the post office idea for its 
ground floor occupant. Mr. Wilbur moved the office 
there just before he retired from the position and 
there it has since remained. 

Timothy Smith became postmaster May 5, 1898. 
During his administration th(^ rural delivery has been 
worked up to nine routes and a complete new outfit, 
up-to-the-minute in design, has been put in. The 
office has been running just too low but very near 
to the line for second class for some time past, and is 
booktd for that change July Ist. 

June 28, 1876, a meeting was- held at the Coun- 
cil rooms and a county medical socif^ty was organized 
Ho well names on the loU were Z. Hawley Marsh, 
Wm. L. Wells, Robert C. Hutton, Cyrus Mather, 
Charles G. Cruickshank, Casper V. Beebe, Henry 
N. Spencer, Andrew Blank and Horace R. Hitch- 
cock. Other physicians of town, who were obliged 



W18T0RY OF HOWELL 171 

to be absent trom that meetinj^, afterward.^ gave tlieir 
names to the secretary, but this was nearly all tliei e 
was to thf life of this organization. 

Medical societies of the coimtry were considerably 
mixed up for several years ])nt straightened out iti 
1902. The present plan calls for county medical 
societiejr affilliated with each other, forming district, 
state and finally the American Medical Society. A 
meeting was held in Howell, in 1908 and the Livings- 
ton County xMedical Society was organized. It now 
includes all physicians of the county. Dr. Irwin of 
Oak Grove, is now its president, and Dr. R. H. 
Baird of Howeil, its seeretnry-treasurei . The execu- 
tive committee is Drs, Brown «ind Brigham of Howell. 
Dr. Claud Irwin of Hartland, Dr. Claud Sigler of 
Pinckney and Dr. Cohen of Brighton. Howell mem- 
bers a>'e Dr. Wni. C. Huntington, Dr. R H. Baird, 
Dr. E. H. Bailey, Dr. Janette Brigham, Dr. J. E 
Browne jind Dr. C. E. Skinner. 

Howell had a Good Templars lodge along in the 
'60s, which did excellent work. Its records are lost 
however and little tangible can be learned. . Anothev 
lodge was organized at the close of a meeting in the 
Presbyterian church, Oct, 8, 1874, by Cha^-les P. 
Russell, then Past Grand Worthy Chief Templar of 
that order in Michigan. Julius D. Smith was its 
first Worthy Chief Templar and Mrs, H. G. W. Fry 
its first Worthy Vice Templar. This lodge was for 
many years one of the strongest social organizations 



176 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

in the town and did a good work for the cause. Quite 
a number of those who had felt the curse of liquor 
were induced to take its obligations and became use- 
ful citizens through its influences. Several of the 
most active of Howell's temperance workers at the 
present day received their early inspiration for the 
<*.ause in the teachings of this order. 

Among its active workers wan Mrs. T. B. Knapp, 
whom the author of this history had the privilege of 
nominating successively, as District Secretary, Grand 
Vice Templar, and Grand Superintendent of Juvenile 
Temples, to each of which positions she was elected. 
She was elected one of the delegates from the Grand 
Lodge of Michigan to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge 
vvhi(^h met in Edinborough, Scotland, in 1891, and to 
Hio sessions at Des Moines Iowa, Chicago. 111., Sara- 
toga. N. Y., Washington, D C, Toronto, Ont., 
and Richmond, Va. 

Nov. 19, 1886 the Livingston Herald was established 
by the author of this history who was then a student 
in the law office of Hon. Rollin H. Person then 
pnu'l icing law in Howell. As is the custom with 
young lawyers, we were then dabbling as a leal estate 
jjgent and wanted an advertising medium. Uncle 
Sam was not as particular in entering second class 
publications in those days, and the little Herald, 
(•osn posed of four pages of two columns each, and 
forming a sheet 8x10 inches in size when opened, was 
easily admitted to the mails even it its third page was 



MISTOHY OF HOWEU. 177 

tilled with advertising for its publisher. By the 
fourth issue Andrew Whitaker then a Howell grocer, 
wantwd advertising space. Stephen Pratt, then a 
Howell druggist, soon followed. By the seventh week 
it became necessary to enlarge to a thi ee-column size. 

After tne big fire in March 1SS7, the Herald 
business had grown so that it became necessary to 
abandon either that or the legal prot>.s<ion and the 
Herald was chosen. At the end of four years its 
first publisher sold the paper, a sueircssful 6-coIumn 
folio, to accept a position on the Toledo Evening 
News where he icniained for ten years. 

Messrs. J. L. Pettibone & 8on who purchased the 
paper, published it but a few months and then sold 
to Thomas W. Brewer who has maintained it as a 
6-column quorto, since that time. 

The old court house was for many years an honor 
to the C/Ounty. Then its surroundings outgrew the 
building and it became an eyesore to everyone. It 
was several times a subject for discussion however, 
before action looking toward improvement could be 
seeured from the board of supervisors. They finally 
submitted a proposition to build a new sheriff^! 
residence and jail at an expense of $8,000, whieh was 
v<>ted upon in the spring of 1887. The townshipn 
of Brighton, Deerfield, Green Oak, Hartland, Handy, 
Tosco, Putman and Tyrone gave decided majorities 
againist the project a total of 961 but the rest of the 
county gave a majority of 1,305 majority in its favor, 



178 HISTORY OP HOWELtL 

thus leaving a net majprity of 344 in the county, 
for the project. The Supervisors took the neces- 
sary action at their next meeting, and the present 
sheriff's residence and jail was built the follow- 
ing year. 

With the jail out of the old court house, sentiment 
for the new one was more rapid in forming. The 
supervisors submitted the question to voters, at their 
January session in 1889, The townships of Handy, 
Putnam, Hartland, Deerfield, Brighton, Green Oak, 
Tyrone and Unadilla rolled up a majority of 1059 
against the project, hut the other towns gave a major- 
ity of 1470 for the building, thus giving 411 majority 
in the county, and the new building was authorized. 

The Board of Supervisors met April 23 of that 
year, and elected a building committee consisting of 
L. J. Wright of lloweli, George W, Barnes of Ty- 
rone, Vincent Parshall of Oceola, Thomas Howlett of 
Unadilla, and Daniel Sabin of (-on way. 

The corner stone was laid August 10, 1889, by 
Judge Turner. General R. A. Alger of Detroit, 
made the leading address, which was followed by a 
five-minutes address from a representative selected 
from each township. 

W. P. Van Winkle was president of the day. Cal- 
vin Wilcox was marshall of the parade which pre- 
ceeded the exercises. There were vice presidents 
from each township. 

The building was not completed until the following 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 179 

year. The Opera House was rented for Circuit Court 
until the new building was ready. 

In the fall of 1886 tw^o young ladies came to Howell 
under orders of the American Salvation Army to es- 
tablish a corps here. They were Capt. Carlson and 
Lieut. Brownell. The old Masonic hall in the 
Weimeister block had been leased before they came, 
and benches had been fitted up for the prospective 
audiences. Prom the start church people of Howell 
rallied to assist the army, and the meetings took on a 
strong swing trom the very first. By the third night 
the two officers had one recruit to go with them on 
the march and others rapidly followed. In time as 
the corps became more prosperous, the skating rink 
was leased and its meetings there, from night to 
night, were probably the most largely attended re- 
ligeous meetings which have ever been held in Howell. 
The audience w^as often counted as it left the build- 
ing and its average number was about 685. During 
the summer of 1887, Gan. Moore who was the head 
of the orgaDization, visited Howell. The occasion 
was one of general recognition and brought several 
thousand people from this and neighboring counties. 

A concerted movement was made by the army, the 
city churches and businessmen, to so favorably im- 
press Gen. M®ore that he would establish their state 
headquarters here, which was done. Two or three 
Howell people became officers and w^ent out in the 
work, from here. In time however, new^ officers 
were appointed here, and the work lagged. Capt. 



180 HISTORY OP HOWELI. 

Carlson became Mrs. Nelson Yel land and Lieut. 
Brownell became Mrs. Will Fisb. Both bave always 
been respected ladies by all who baye known tV»em 
here. 

Some time after the American Army ceased to ex- 
ist in Howell, the organization headed by Gen. Booth 
secured a foothold here and <M)ntinued with varying 
success f©r some years. Amonjr its officers was Mrs. 
Ben Porter who for several years past has done ex- 
cellent work with her husband who has been a 
Methodist pastor and successful evanofelist. 

On Saturday evening, March 12, 1887, as Andrew 
Whitaker and Burr Montague were going home after 
business places were shut up, they discovered the 
Monroe block at the corner of Grand River and State 
streets to be on fire. Mr. Montague ran to the side 
window which he had just reached when an explosion 
took place which threw him back across the sidewalk 
and over the bitehiTig post, but not seriously injuring 
him. The inside of the building was torn from the 
basement to the roof and fire was thrown three stories, 
and onto adjoining roofs. In an instant the entire 
Monroe block was in flames and the fire spread very 
rapidly to adjoining buildings. E. P. Giegory who was 
then village president, telephoned to Ann Arbor and 
Lansing for help, and both of those cities responded 
promptly with steamers. Before they arrived how- 
ever, the Greenaway block which stood at the west 
end of the square where the fire started, fell inward 



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HISTORY OF HOWELL 181 

with a erasli, thus making it possible to confine the 
fire to one square which could not have been done 
if it had fallen outward. The burned district covered 
the entire square of business blocks, except four small 
two-story buildings in the north-east corner. The 
loss was a verv large one and divided among over 
thirty people and firms. 

Just as the fire '^ngine was pulled to the scene some- 
one in the Court yard called ''Tom (Uark" and added 
some epithet, and fired, The shot just grazed 
Mr. Clark's clothing, glanced from the engine and 
hit Al. Fishbeck but its force was too much spent to 
do much damage. The crowd rushed across the street 
but failed to find the shooter in the darkness. The 
shot, with the fact that Mr. Monroe who was an ac- 
tive temperance worker, had received a letter threaten- 
ing to burn him out if he didn't stop bis prohibition 
work, caused considerable excitement at the time, 
but no one was ever brought to justice. 

Tuesday, May 24, 1887, occurred the death of Jay 
Corson. Mr. Corson was born in Green Oak, and 
was always known to Howell people. After r^radua- 
ting from the law department of the University of 
Michii^an in 1880. he was given such a welcome to 
Howell us few young Uien receive. After a few 
monrhs he tried life in Alpena and Detroit, *^nd re- 
turned to Howell in 1888, He was elected Circuit 
Court commissioner in the following campaign, and 
was village president in 1885, declining the honor of 



182 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

a second nomination. In 1886 he was nominated for 
prosecuting attorney in the Republican <*.ounty eon- 
vention, by acclamation. His health failed so that 
he was not able to make a vigorous campaign, but he 
received more votes than any other candidate upon 
his ticket, and all but five votes in his native town of 
(Ireen Oak. At the age of twenty-nine years, just as 
great prospects seemed in open before him, Jay Cor- 
son's life story closed here, to open in the hereafter. 

Two or three efforts were made ar ^^arious times 
to organize a Livingston County Sunday school 
association. A meeting was held in the Presbyterian 
church in 1888, and an organization was perfected. 
Prank Holden of Green Oak, was elected president 
and ]{. C. Reed then of Oceola, was secretary. The 
first county convention was also held in the Presby- 
terian church, on April 16 and 17 of that year, and 
was very successful . County Sunday school con- 
ventions were held regularly from that time forward, 
for a good many jears and much good was ac- 
complished. It was finally allowed to lapse however. 
A convention was held at the M. E, church last year 
and the organization was revived. 

When the first organization was perfected each 
township in the county was reorganized by electing 
a president and secretar\ . A. Riley Crittenden was 
iresident of the Howell association and Mrs. Sarah 
T. Lyon secretary. The Howell association was 
active in the work during their term of office . The 



HISTORY OF HOWEIJ. 183 

officers which followed them allowed it to lapse. 

In the early '80s, Pirofs. (jeorge Barnes and Thomas 
(iordon Jr. conducted a normal training school for 
teachers, in Howell, during the summer vacation. 
About iift> younsr people of the county availed them- 
selves of the opportunity for review and preparation 
for the fall teachers' examination. The school proved 
such a complete success that a similar school was 
held bv these gentlemen or other local educators for 
some years. The central school building was leased 
for the purpose and the Howell summer schools at- 
tracted considerable attention, drawing students from 
quite a territory beyond the county lines. They 
proved to be quite an enterprise too for the town, as 
the young people had to be maititained here, and 
quite a trade in all lines resulted. 

Thompson's lake has always contained a number 
of springs from which flow very cold water. These 
form currents which oiten catch swimmers who at- 
tempt long distance swimming and dangerous cramps 
result. This has led to a number of drownings. 
Another cause of these eatastrophies is the closeness 
to town and its temptation when the ice is i.ot yet 
strong enough in the fall. One of the saddest ol 
this latter was the drowning of Oliiford Culver a 
bright, promising boy of twelve years, on Thursday, 
Nov. 22, 1888. For over half an hour the heroic 
boy hung to the ice and waited for the help which 
was vainly trving te reach him. At last benumbed 



184 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

by the cold water called out his good byes and let go 
to sink out of sight, until the ice was broken to the 
spot and the body was recovered, about thee hour;? 
later. 

The last drowning in Thompson's lake, Thursday 
June 28, 1906i w^as also a peculiarly sad one. The 
victim was Kern Beurmann, a popular and promising 
young man who graduated from the Howell High 
School three years befoie, and bad just completed his 
law course at the University of Michit>an. He went 
to the lake for a swiui. The day was very warm and 
he was without doubt attached with cramps Avbich 
took him down. His body w^as not in the water a 
great while but it wa« impossible to resuscitate him. 

In December, 1888, three or four cases of small 
pox devoJT'Cd in Howell and one in the country ue^y 
town, Georgia Fishbeck who boarded with his uncle 
Murry Fishbeck, died of the dread disease. VVhen the 
first cases developed ev^ry precaution was taken to 
head off a farther spiead of the disease and it was 
confidently expected that this had been accomplished, 
All three papers then published in Howell had items 
to the effect that there was no further daneer. The 
day after they were issuec C. J. Cook who was clerk- 
ing in one of the stores came down with varioloid. 
Rumor confounded him witn C. L. Cook the well- 
known grocer. The Pinckney Dispatch sounded a 
warning to keep away from Howell, and alleged that 
the papers and people here were misrepresenting the 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 185 

situation. The scare worked and it was spring before 
it was over and business resumed its normal condi- 
tion. Tkere have been two or three similar scares at 
various times, but this one was probably the most se- 
vere the town has ever seen. During two or three 
weeks, at the height of the scare, only four teams 
went down Grand River street. 

Late township officers are as follows: 

1880— Supervisor, George W. Fitch; clerk, Wil- 
liam F. Griffith; tieasurer, Thomas G. Switzer; 
school inspector, Charles A, Phillips; superintendent 
of schools, Hugh Conklin. He resigned December 7, 
and Thomns Gordon Jr. was appointed; highway 
commissioner, William J. Walbran; drain commis- 
sioner, Harvey R. Durfee; Constables, Nelson A. 
Eckler, George B. Raymour, Charles E. Beurmann 
Jr., C. Franklin Dorrance, 

1881 — Supervi?Jor, Timothy Smith; clerk, Henry 
D. VA^ilber; treasurer, William R. Miller; superin- 
tendent of schools, Thomas Gordon Jr. He resigned 
and Frank O. Burt was appointed; school inspector 
Horace P. Bump; highway commissioner, Eugene E. 
Latson ; constables, Andrew J. Rounds, R. H. Rum- 
sey, Edgar Noble, W. H. White. 

1882— Supervisor, Albert RiddJe; clerk, Seth B. 
Rubert; treasurer, William R Miller; school inspec- 
tor, two years, Harry J. Havens, one year, Sidney H. 
Burt; highwav commissioner, David P. Lake; con- 
stable, William Brower, appointed by town board. 



186 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

1883— Supervisor, Homer N. Beach; clerk, Seth B. 
Rubert; treasurer, Leslie E. Woodruff; highway 
commissioner, David P. Lake; constables, Amos 
Winegar, P. McManus, 

1884 — Supervisor, Homer N. Beach; clerk, Wil- 
liam C. Spencer; treasurer, Leslie E. Woodruff; 
school inspector, David D. Harger; highway commis- 
sioner, Wesley W. Crittenden; drain commissioner, 
Isaac W. Stowe; constables, H. H. Clark, Benjamin 
H. Perkins. 

1885 — Supervisor, George W. Axtell; clerk, Seth 
B. Rubert; treasurer, Frank P. Aicher; school in- 
spector, Lewis C. Miller; highway commissioner, 
Thomas Hale; constables, H. H. Clark, S. D. Ander- 
son, Jerome Wilber, Edwin Smith. 

1886 — Supervisor. Albert Riddle; clerk, Amos 
Winegar; treasurer, Louis J. Wright; school inspec- 
tor, Frank D. Filkins; highway commissioner, 
Thomas Hale; drain commissioner, David P. Lake; 
constables, John Roustin, RoDert A. Chambers, Al- 
fred Copeland. 

1887 — Supervisor, Newton T. Kirk; clerk, William 
M, Force; treasurer, Timothy Smith; school inspec- 
tor David b Harger, vacancy, Jay Corson; highway 
commissioner, George Howard Jr. ; constables, Wal- 
ter S, Fapworth, Charles H. White. 

1888 — Supervisor, Lewis J. Wright; clerk, Judd 
Yelland; treasurer, Timothy Smith; school iaspector, 
Perry G. Burdiek; highway commissioner, David P. 



HISTOKY OP HOWELL 187 

Lake; drain commissioner, James Canlield; consta- 
bles, George Lown, Will Peavy. 

1889— Supervisor, Lewis J. Wright; clerk, Judd 
Yelland: treasurer, Frank Crandall; school inspector 
Andrew B. Fishbeck; highway commissioner, Edwin 
W. Smith; drain commissioner, George Lown, 

1890— Supervisor, Lewis J. Wright; clerk, B. L. 
Walker; treasurer, Frank Z. HubOell; school inspec- 
tor, Edward J. Drewery; justice of the peace, George 

B. Raymour, vacancy, David Robison; highway com- 
missioner, Richard Hale; drain commissioner, Wil- 
liam Line; constables, George Lown, E. D. McKinley 
John F. Marr; board, of review, Frank O. Burt, 
Gilbert L. Wolcott. 

1891— Supervisor, Lewis J. Wright; clerk, George 

C. Allen; treasurer. Prank Z. Hubbell; school in- 
spector, Charles Gilks; justice of the peace, E. P. 

Gregory; highway commissioner, Richard Hale; con- 
stables, Vernon C Smith, George Lown, Julius B. 
Whitaker; member board of review, Gilbert L. Wol" 
cott. 

1892— Supervisor, Homer N. Beach; clerk. An" 
drew B. Fishbeck; treasurer, James Ryan; school in- 
spector, Vern(»n C. Smith, vacancy, Henry H. Wine&; 
highwav commissioner, Eurias Marr ; drain commis- 
sioner, William Line; constables, L. J. Wright, 
George L. Lown; board of review, Gilbert L. Wol- 
cott, David P. Lake, 

1893— Supervisor, Homer N. Beach; clerk, An- 



188 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

drew B. FisLbeck; treasurer, James Ryan; seLuol iij- 
spector Joseph iS, Brown; justice of the peace, Ver- 
non C. ISmith; highway coiiimissioner, Eurias Marr; 
member board of review, David P. Lake. 

1894— Supervisor, Homer N. B^aeh; clerk, Frank 
J. Holt; treasurer. Amos VYinegar; school inspector, 
M. L. Carpenter; justice of the peace, Eugene A. 
Stowe; highway commissioner, Richard Hale; drain 
commissioner, William Line ; board of review, David 
P, Lake, Solomon Hildebrant. 

1895 — Supervisor, Homer N. Beaeh; clerk, Frank 
J, Holt; treasurer, Amos Winegar; school inspector, 
Roy Fitch; justice of the peace, Dwight H. Fitch; 
highway commissiouer, Richard Hale; member board 
of review, Daniel Bergin. 

1896 — Supervisor, Amos Winegar; clerk, Frank J, 
Bolt; trtasuier Waller W. Knf.pp; school inspector 
G. Clyde Brown; justice cf the peace. Robert R. 
Wakefield ; f highway ( ( n n i i- ( 1 1 r, Eui ir s Marr ; 
constables, Lemuel A. Wight, Frank Durfee, Pat- 
rick Devlin, Stephen G. Fishbeek; membei board of 
revieW: David P. Lake. 

1897 — Supervisor, Amos Winegar; clerk, Frank J. 
Holt; treasurer, Walter W. Knapp; highway com- 
missioner, Enrias Marr. 

1898— Supervisor, Walter W. Knapp ; clerk, Frank 
J. Holt; treasurer, Richard E. Barron; highway 
commissioner, James E. Filkins. 

1899 — Supervisor, Walter W. Knapp ; clerk, Frank 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 189 

J. Holt; treasurer, Richard E. Barron; school in- 
spector, Benjamin J. Wessinger; highway commis- 
sioner, James B. Filkins; constables. David P. Lake, 
Stephen Gr. Fishbeck; member board of review, 
Thomas Lamoreaux. 

1900— Supervisor, Walter W. Knapp; cl^rk, Frank 
J. Holt; treasurer, John B. Barron; school inspector 
C. E. White; justice of the peace, David D. Harger; 
highway commissioner, William H. Peavy; consta- 
ble, Stephen G. Fishbeck; member board of review, 
Eurias Marr. 

1901— Supervisor, W. H. S. Wocd; clerk, Frank 
J, Holt; treasurer, John B. Barron; school inspector 
Samuel M. Yerkes; justice of the peace, Richard D. 
Roche; high'va\ commissioner, William H. Peavy; 
constables, Fre^^iuan Rorabacher, S. David Anderson; 
member board wf review, Laverne D Brockway. 

1902— Supervisor, W. H. S Wood; clerk, Frank 
J. Holt; treasurer, Piin Gr. Henrv; school inspector, 
R. Bruce Satterla; justice of the peace, Glenn S. 
Mack; highway commissioner, William H. Peavy; 
constables, Samuel D. Anderson, Freeman Rorabach- 
er, Henry H Collins. 

1903 — Supervisor, John Kirk; clerk, Frank J. 
Holt; treasurer, P. J. Henry. 

1904— Supervisor. Tim P. Stowe; clerk, Frank J, 
Holt; treasurer, Wilbur 5. Johnson; school inspec- 
tor, R. B. Satterla; justice of the peace, David D. 
Harger; to fill vacancy, Andre ^v J. Brown; highway 



190 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

commissioner, Kichard Hale; constables, Henry H. 
Collins, Stephen G. Fishbeck; member board of re- 
view, Eurias Marr, 

1905— Supervisor, Tim P. Stowe; clerk, Frank J. 
Hoi:;; treasurer, Wilbur Johnson; school inspector, 
Howard Warner; justice of the poace, Richrad 
Roche; hififhwav commissioner, Richard Hale; con 
stables, Stephen Fishbeck, F. Korabacher, Roy Jubb, 
William H. Peavy; member board of review, Gilbert 
Sargent. 

1906 — Supervisor, E. Miller Beurmann ; clerk, 
Frank J, Holt; treasurer, James H. Miner; school 
Inspector, R. Bruce Satterla; justice of the peace, 
Alfred E. Papworth; highwav commissioner, Frank 
M. Miner; constables. H. H. Collins, Freeman Rora- 
bacher, Vyilliam J. Culver, Harry L. Willia^ns, mem- 
ber board of review, Frank R. Crandall; library di- 
rectors, Thomas Gordon Jr., M. J. McPherson, W 
H. S. Wood. 

1907— Supervisor, E Miller Beurmann; clerk, 
Frank J. Holt; treasurer, James H. Miner; gcbool 
pinsector, Howard C. Warner; vacancy. John Ear]; 
justice of the peace, Herbert Satterle; highway com- 
missioner, Eugene E. Howe; coustables, Fred 
Sttrcker, William J, Culver, He>^ry H. Collins, Frtd 
Satterla; member board of review, Adeibert F. Peavy; 
lidrary directors, George Barnes, Albert D. 
Thompson. 

1908 — Supervisor, E Miller Bcurmauu; clerk, 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 191 

Frank J. Holt; tieasurer, Andrew J. Brown; school 

inspector, Wm. R. Wbitaker; justice of the peace 
David D, Rarger; librarj' directors, R. Bruce Mc- 
Pherson, Geo. H. Chapel; Highway commissioner, 
Eugene E. Howe; constables, Wm. J. Culver, Al- 
bert Satterla, Henry H. Collins, Freeman Rorabacher; 
member board of review, Fra^k R. Crandall. 

1909 — Supervisor, E. Miller Beurmann; clerk, 
Frank J. Holt; treasurer, Andrew J. Brown; jus- 
tree of the peace, Richard D. Roche; highway com- 
missioner, Johia P. Loekwood; highway overseer, 
Charles Melentine; constioles Wm. F. Culver. Ray 
E Latsvjn, Henry H, Collins, Freeman Rorabacher; 
library directors, Louis S. Brooke, Martin J. Mc- 
Pherson; member of review, Adelbert F. Peavy. 



CHAPTER XI 
Dp to Now 

In 1880 Hunter & Holmes then building contrac- 
tors here, commenced tbe eractiun of an opera 
house. The building was opened in 1881, with 
Joseph Jefferson. It was at once a conTenicBce for 
the town which was fully appreciated and has always 
enjoyed a loyal patronage from Howell people for 
public meetings. 

As a play house the patronage has been of the 
streaked order, sometimes strong and then not ho 
good, but usually pretty fair for a town the size of 
Howell. 

The building enterprise proved to heavy for the 
builders and thf^ building went oa the n]ortg£»ge. It 
was owned for awhile by Detroit parties and was 
then purchased by Arthur Garland who has since 
managed it and ('(-nducted his business there. 

October 2, 1892. Are broke out in the basement of 
Isaac Bush's grocery on Grand River i«treit, between 
Division and State streets. The tlue stop had fallen 
out of the chimney in the basement. People in the 
store adjoining, burned out some papers and truck, 
in their stove. The fire was drawn down through the 
ehimney, with the result already given. It had a 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 19? 

good headway before dis(iovered, and was soon be- 
yond control. AH the buildings in that block, 
fronting on Grand River street, except the east store, 
were burned. The loss was estimated at $75,000, 

Among the heavy loosers were Hickey & Uoodnow 
who occupied a double store. The building collapsed 
before anyone expected and several people had very 
narrow escapes. Oliver Cook had to be pulled out. 
Mrs, B\ G. Hickey was caughi by one foot, and 
called loudly for those near to get an axe and cut off 
her foot. Crowbars were secured and she was finally 
pried loose, -vith great effort. 

L'rank G. Hickey and Darwin Wines were very 
soon missed. Their remains were found in the ruins 
as soon as the fire was sufficiently under control so 
that the anxious ones could search for them. Mr. 
Hickey was senior member of the firm. Mr. Wines 
was a contractor and builder. 

In the fall of 1890 Hon. Charles Fishbeek who was 
soon to retire from office of Judge of Probate, took 
steps to organize a second bank for Howell. J. A. 
May who had had some experience iis the business 
was secured to lead in the enterprise and several good 
men were soon inlerested. Preliminary meetings 
were held in Fish beck's office. The application for a 
charter was filed Nov. 28 of that year. The charter 
was granted Jan. 12, 1891, 

Miller Bros, who had for years run a saloon and 
cigar factory, about that time bought the block where 



193 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

they have since been. The room they vacated was 
fitted up fer the bank which took the name of First 
State and Sayings Bank of HowelJ, Michigan. The 
first officers were Charles Fishbeck, president. Fiank 
G, Hickey, vice president; J. A, May, cashier; di- 
rectors, Charles C/urtis, Frank G. Hickey, Charles 
Fishbeck, Asa VanKleek, J. A. May, John Ryan, 
S. B. Rubert. 

The bank opened for business Jan. 13, 1891. 

The present board of directors are Charles A, 
Gooduow, Arthur Garland, Asa VaiiKleek, George 
Barnes, John Ryan, F. O. Burr, W. P, Van Winkle, 
The officers are, presid3nt, \V. P. VanWinkle; vice 
president, Asa VanKleek; cashier. A, L. Smith; 
assistant cashier, \j. R, Manning. 

George H. Hazelwood who was the first sgent 
here for the Ann Arbor R R iuieresied himself in a 
factory project and raised the net^essary monej^ to se- 
cure A. A. and Fred Pi;Htt and Edward Porter who 
moved here from Hudson with oheir bending works. 

The company took the Lanies o1 The Howoll 

Manufacturer Co , and manufactured quite an ex- 
tensive line of bent woodwork. In 1891 their works 

which stood near the present milk factory site, were 

burned. They were rebuit i^}(.iia much smaller 

scale but were burned a pain in 1893, By this time 

tliej" had worked up about all the available timl er in 

this section and the works were never rebuilt here, 

The Piatts moved to Lansiugr. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 194 

AloD^ in the '80s James M. Turner of Lansing, 
organized a milk factory there, taking the name of 
Michigan Condensed Milk Co. In time ho casually 
asked VVm. McPherson oi.eday, if he knew where a man 
could be secured to take hold of their business in New 
York, to look after sales. This talk led to the em- 
ployment of Birt F. Parsons who closed out his bu- 
siness here and moved to New York, for that pur- 
pose. Shortly after this James F. Joy and C, H, 
Buhl of Detroit, acquiied the business from Mr. 
Turner, 

Largely through Mr. Parsons' personal efforts the 
business grew until the company required more milk 
than one factory's capacity. Mr. Parsons remem- 
bered his old home town and took the matter up 
here. A meeting wa!=: held in the Opera House in 
1891 and the required bonus of $5,000 was raised to 
secure the factory. 

For some tirne milk was phi oped to Lansing. By 
the time the factory was ready there was milk en- 
ough cowing in to start work here. It was opened 
in 1898. with E. P. Gregory as superintendent. He 
resign(din 1901 and Wm. S, Sanderlands succeded 
him to that position, Ma> 8 of that year. 

The factory has for years received an average of 
90,000 pounds of milk per day. It has averaged 
paying the farmers $360,000 per year for milk, and 
over $40,000 per year to help. Other factories have 
paid in checks at panicy times but the Howell factory 



195 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

has always pidvided the cash without a single failure. 
The value to the whole community, by haviug this 
itream of money flowing ir: legularly. winter h nd 
summer, is beyond compction 

Id 1881, W, K. Sexton who then lived on his farm 
in Marion, bought seme Holstein cattle at 8t. Clair- 
ville, N. Y, He wa^s so weil pleas^ed with them that 
when the man from wh(»ni he pnrch«sed imported 
from Holland in 1882, Mr. Sexfon i^^'cured some to 
eorae with his. At that time this section 
was considerably noted for Durham cattle and Mr. 
Sexton's black and white stock created ^11 cinds of 
comment when he showed them at the countv fair 
that fall. He had carefully staddied his oreed how- 
ever and given them a severe test> and pinned his 
faith to the Holsteins, For his earefnl work in 
those davs the industry here has much to be thank- 
ful. In that first irap^a'tation was a noble cow 
v.'ith th^ characteristic Holland name of Houwtje. 
Recognizing her value Mr, S'xtot. movcu his opera- 
tions largely toward her family. He lias lived to se« 
them among the countrv's leaders. 

Frank Metz who worked for Mr. Sexton, caueht 
his ar»^or and enthusiasm, and was the second Hol- 
stein man here. Horace Norton ?oon followed. All 
of these were in Marion but they laid the founda- 
tion for what has become, beyond any question, 
Howell's greatest and most paving erterprise, 

The advent of the milk factory had much to d« 



HISTORY OF HOWELl. 196 

with the developement of the Holstein industry. R. 
C. Reed, now of the firm of Reed & KnowH^s; Frank 
Crandall, The McPberson Farms Co., Dr. W. C. 
Huntington, F. W Vlunson, W. W. Crittenden, 
J. W. Worhington, E. F, Gregory and other Howell 
farmers are extensively engaged in Holstein breed 
ing. The A. il. O. movement which requires record 
of production before registry, has found hearty sup- 
port here, and the fame of Howell cattle, including 
several farmers in other towns, is as wide ns this 
country. jy>essrs. '^eed and Crandall have been 
officers of the state and national Holstein breeders 
associations. Car load lots of th'»roughbreds are 
regularly shipped froni this market to breeders every 
wh^re, Howell being the only place where choice 
specimens of this breed can regularly be purchased 
in such quantities. The trade in Holstein grades too 
is very large. So many buy. rs corae from all parts 
of the country that D. M. Beckwith has made it his 
regular business for some time past tv^ act as a sort 
of broker to bring these buyers in contact with the 
cattle available for sale on farms in this county. 

In the matter of lecords, Howell cattle are right 
at the front. Houwtje K. Pietertje DeKol. No. 
61,543, leads with a record of 99.6 pounds of milk in 
one day and 675 pounds in seven days. Her but- 
ter record in seven days was 18.98 pounds. She is 
owned by McPherson Farms Co. The 90 pound 
class has a large number of cows liereabouts. 



197 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Going pi ices paid to farmers for thoroughbred 
Holsteins run around $250, with choice animals 
more than doubling those figures. Fcr grades the 
farmers are receiving $60 to $80. 

Year after year, in the state medical society, the 
question of establishing a state sanitorium for the 
treatment of tuberculosis, was discussed. Committees 
were often appointed, only to be turned down by the 
Legislature. In 1905 tne matter was brought on 
again by a paper in the state medical society, by 
Dr, Hartz of Detroit It was decided to make an- 
other trial and Dr, Hartz became chairman of ihe 
committee [O take the matter up at Lansing. Some 
local physicians became interested and brought the 
matter to the attention of Senator Rumer and Rep- 
resentative VanKeuren of this district, and posted 
them as to the need and value of such an institution, 
When the bill reached the Legislature, they were 
both among its stronoi^st supporters When it 
passed with an appropriation of $30,000 to establish 
the instirution and maintain it for ihe coming two 
years, Dr. W. C. Huntington, to use a modern ex- 
pression, got busy. 

Dr. Huntington's son Harry had recently returned 
from treatment in a similar institution in the east. 
He and his father, at once becran a search of property 
in this vicinity for the most available site. Thev 
picked the grounds weich were afterw^ards decided 
upon. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 198 

Dr. Huntin^^ton then called a meeting at the "en- 
gine honse", and the matter was taken up, It was 
decided to go after the institution and committees 
were appointed nccordinglv. E. P. Gregory who was 
chairman of the meeting, became chairman of the 
general committee. Everyone pulled together and 
the institution was secured. The first board, was 
Dr. Hartz of Detroit; Hon. Geo. W, Teeple of 
Pinckney; F^rank B. Leeland of Detroit; Dr. Lohn- 
son of Grand Rapids; Dr. Gray of Clare and Dr, 
Copeland of Ann Arbor. 

Dr, Kennedy of Detroit was its first superinten- 
dcLt. 

The local committer raised the monej" to present 
the site to the state, as an inducement to locate 
here. 

D]\ Pierce h n')w superintendent. The present 
hoaril is as follows: Dr. Hartz of Detroit; Dr. John- 
son of Gi^Dd Rapids; Hon. Geo. W. Teeple of 
I*inckhey: Dr. Gray of CIsre; Dr. Hinsdale of Ann- 
Arbor, and Dr. F. H. Lpeland of Detroit. 

In 1808, E. A Bowman opened a little bazaar 
.store in the C^rdwell block It wasn't a very larere 
institution and while Howell has a welcome for large 
and small alike, no one thought a great deal about it 
anyhow. In Mr. Cowman's deslj is a little brown 
e>ivelope hxbflcd "First sale, March 15, 1898." It 
contains five cents. 

While the stock was small, its owner possessed in- 



199 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

domitabie will, courage, courtesy and hustle. These 
qualities didn't show up on the first invoice, but they 
went right into the business with the little stock. 
After awhile, the store moved to a more central loca- 
tion and then to one of the largest stores in town. 
Then e^me a balcony, a basement fitted up for addi- 
tional departments, a comm^-dious store house erected 
in the lear and an annex in another building. At 
the start, Mr, Bowman and a boy took care of all the 
trad^ and had lots of time. Now, seven clerks are 
regularly employed, more on Saturdays and in the 
holiday season, as high as twenty-eight have been re- 
quired to take care of the trade. The little store has 
grown to be the leader in its lines. lis a marvelous 
development. 

Intheeaily '80s. Frank H. Bush built Howell's 
first greenhouse. It stood on ! he ground now oc- 
cupied by John Kingquei?t's house. For two or 
three years he did a good busines, and then having 
engaged in the news and confectionary business al- 
lowe(3 his gjeenhouse to go down. By the way 
this vounsr man's confectionary business was in the 
room now occiipis^d by Kirk's millinery rtore on 
State street His peanut roaster was a new thing in 
Howell, and gave him a big: busines, and this in 
tarn gave to the row^ of two story business places, 
then lately erer-tfd, the nam.e of "Peanut Row', 
which it has since hdd. 

About twenty years ngo, Mrs (leo. B. Lake who 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 200 

was then living with hei father, Dr, Z. H. Marrrh, 
built a small greenhouse adjoining her home. About 
that time a yonng man named Samuel I). Chaney 
arrived m Howeil and arranged to work for Mrs. 
Lake for his ooard, and goto school. The green- 
bouse became largely his care. Chaney afterwards 
became an operator on thf Ch'cago Board of Trade, 
where he made a handsome fortune. H^^ retired a 
few years ago and built a splendid home at Jobet, 
111., and has a tine snmmer home at Chautauqua 
Lake N. Y. 

Soon after Mr. Chaney gave up his jeb of work- 
ing in the greenhouse for his board, J. Albert Brown 
was emplo.\ ed by Mrs. Lake. He worked for her 
aDout seven yeai's, and thirteen vears ago, purchased 
the property. Under Mr. Brown's skilful manage- 
ment the business of flower culture has developed to 
one of the best i" this section of the state, calling for 
several large house?, well equipned with the very 
latest appliances. 

The idea of raising vegetables under glass was new 
here when Lee Chamberlain tootc it up wiih Howell 
people in 1906. He succeeded in interesting capital 
with him and organized the firm of Lee Chamber 
lain & Co. Arrangements were made with the 
Water Works and Electric Li,^ht Board to run waste 
steam from their works for heating purposes and 
the green houses were built. In 3907 the ©Id firm 
was changed to an incorporation under the name 



201 RISTOHT OF HOWELL 

ofHow?!! Gi't enboi.se Co., Mr. Cbamberlaiu remain" 
ing in the general management. At tbis writing two 
houses eacb two by twelve rods in size, have been un- 
der cultivation since the company began operations, 
and a third is to be erected in the very near future, 
The leading products are lettuce, tomatoes and cu- 
cmbers which find ready mark et at home and in the 
cities, all through the winter. 

Another greenhouse was built by Walter Papworth, 
in connpclion with his market garden business, some 
years ago. It has laid the foundation for quite an 
extensive industry, Every spring, tomatoes and 
other plants which are started there, are shipped to 
towns all through this part of the state. 

When William McPherson first established his 
store in Howell, a few drugs were among the sto3k 
as they are in all country stores. Later, when he 
formed the partnershin with William Riddle and 
moved to the corner now occupied by O. J. Parker's 
drug store, the druers became a main stock, gradually 
developing, until a few years later, a fully equipped 
drug store wa« to be found there. In time the late 
H. P. Browiiing came here to clerk in this drug 
store, ani for some >ears managed it for Mr. Mc- 
Pherson and Son. 

Later this stock was owned by Henry D. Wilber 
who ran it for a good many years, finally moving 
to the old Winans block, where crockery, etc, was 
added, and where it went out in the first big fire 
which swept that block. 



HISTORY OK IIOWKJJ. 202 

Another early drug store was run by K A. Vouugfs 

w ho gained ([uite a reputation with liis mcdicini's. 
Mr. Yciungs sold uut t<» W. F. Griffith wlio nui the 

store for a shoi-t time and soUl it t(» O.J. Parker. 

twentj-five vt^ars ago. Mr. Parker moved to the M. 

J. McPherson bloei^: when it was (completed and h-ds 
been there since, hut is soon to nutve to the Crreena- 

way block. 

Another early drug store was Dr. Plan ok "s. }i. 
was located ni the Green })lo<-k. afterwards known as 
McKeever bloek. Dr. Pdanck sold to A. II. Phinney 
who moved the stock to the VanKleeck block, where 
it was sold to Tim P. Stowe and E. K. .Tohnson. 
They were together for seven ctr eight years, when 
Mr. Johnson, in 1S8(L bought his partner's interests. 
When this was done, tlie stock was in what is now 
knowai Jis Monroe Brothers" l)loek. It was moved 
from there tu the Gregory block in 1909. 

Sometime after selling his interests in the firm of 
Stowe & Johnson, Mr. StoAve started a new dvui: 
store, which he ran for some time and ttien sold to 
Barron & Wines. 

Drs. Spencer & Uutton earned :i giowiug stock ot 
medicines in their offices. When these weie united 
in the formation of their medical partnership, it pret- 
ty nearly mad« a drug store of itself. They were 
leaders in their line for some 3 ears, and were succeed- 
ed bj' H?nrv P. Spencer, who sold to E. Herendeen, 
who afterwards failed and the stock was largely sold 



20« HISTORY OF HOWELL 

at auction, the balance beine stored for some years, 
in a barn. 

Another very early drug store was that of Frank 
Wells. He moved from here to Lansing where he 
was prominent in business circles tor several years. 

In 1901 W, H. S. Wood was elected Supervisor 
and he proposed a petition tor a vote on the propo- 
sition of not to exceed a one mill tax for the pur- 
pose of establishing and maintaining a township 
librarv, and among the fir^t signers thereof were M. 
J. McPherson, Wm. VanWifnkle and K. S. B. Holt. 
Meanwhile Mr. Wood also wrote to Andrew Carnegie 
who offered $10,000 for a library building if sight 
and ten perceot or $1000 was promised for annual 
maintenance. The vote w-as taken at the April elec- 
tion in 1902, no great effort being made to in- 
fluence voters, except some quiet arguments and 
letters in the press by members of the Howell 
Woman's Club, Mr. Wood having' stated that he de- 
sired the voters and taxpayer:^ to exercise a careful 
and consistent choice in supporting or rejecting it, 
but it carried by a vote ot about two to one. The 
Township Board then appointed suitable committees 
and the plans of archeteei. E. E. Meyers of Detroit, 
who was also the archetect of the Stat*» Capitol at 
Lansing, and those of Texas, Colorado and Illinois 
were accepted. 

Meanwhile, the sons of William McPherson, viz. 
Wm, Jr., E. G.. M. J. and Alex, secured and pur- 



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HISTORY OF HOWELL 204 

ehasei the entire block on Grand River street 
formerly occupied by the old foundry and presented 
it for a site, the cCLtrel front where the building 
stands being accepted by the township and the re- 
mainder of the block by the village as a park. 

It was decided to build the library of field stone or 
glacial granite, found in fields near here and it has 
certainly made as fine ^n appearing library building 
as there is in the btate and being on the best thor- 
ougnfare, is generally noted and remarked about by 
all strangers passing in automobiles, etc 

The contract was let to G, Kuehnle, he being the 
only bidder on the entire building and it was com- 
menced in the spring of 1903, but after getting the 
walls up and roof boards on, the contractor failed and 
it so remained until Mr. Carnegie was induced by M. 
J. McPherson, to make a further appropriation of five 
thousand dollars, by which it was completed and the 
Duiiding was opened for use Thursday, November 19, 
1906, with an address by Rev, Dr. J. H Barkley of 

Detroit. 

The first Board ot Township Library Commission- 
ers, elected in 1903, consisted of M. J. McPherson, 
W. H. S, Wood, Rev. Brooke. Thomas Gordon Jr., 
George Chapel and George Barnes and since then, R. 
B. McPherson, A. D. Thompson and Rev. Cooper 
have acted tnereon. 

Miss Luey Chapel was appointed librarian. The 
books of the Ladies Library Association, were trans 



205 HISTOKl OF HOWELL 

f erred to it. Tne children cf Mrs. vV^illiam 
McPhersoD Jr., presented five hundred doliarfc? worth 
of new books, the late Solomon Hildehrant and Dr. 
W. J Mills and others g^ave books and W, H. S. 
Wood gave about two thousand law and government 
reports. 

When Miss Chapel resigned Februar> 14, 1910, 
Mrs. Myrtle Wilkinson was appointed to the position. 

The libiarj' is opened everj^ weekday from two to 
five p. tn, and on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 
evenings from seven to nine p. ni.. It low has about 
6,000 volumes, and is much used and appreciated by 
tne public, and especially the pupils in the public 
schools. It belongs to the entire township of Howell, 
is a tree circulatirig librar\ , books being allcveJ to 
be kept two weeks, except reference books, 

A law was passed in 1905. drawn by W. H. S. 
Wood and introduced bv Senator George Bariies, al- 
lowing adjoining towns to join with Howell in its 
support and use, but it hns not as yet been availed of 
by thern. 

In January, 1907, Prof. D. F, Clark established the 
Howell Business College, affilliated with the Bliss 
Business College ^f Flint. Prof. F. M, Dye was 
placed in charge for the first year. Prof. W. A. Clark 
became the head of the school the following lall and 
is still in that position, The college took a high 
grade for i^^s work, from the start, and has main- 
tained it. Its list of students has been larger each 
year than the year before. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 206 

Oh May 9th, 1909, A. Riley Crittenden learned 
that a Detroit factory was looking for a location with 
more capital. The business looked good and he so('n 
Jirranged to bring the parties into contact with How- 
ell people. Before noon the next day the matter was 
practically cinched and on May 20th a contract was 
signed which resulted in the establishment of the 
Wickman Wire Works here. The company is incor- 
porated for $12,000 wi'h H. J, Wickman, Robert S. 
Layman, Wm. McPherson Jr, R. B. McPherson, M. 
J. McPherson, H E. McPherson, O, J. Parker E. 
C. Shields, Jay C. Walton and Fred P. Schroeder as 
stockholders. Its first officers were: 
President— R. B. McPherson. 

Vice President and General Si;perinterident~-H. J. 
Wickman. 
Secretary- Treasurer — H. E. McPherson. 
The company manufactures a line of wire special- 
ties with a twisted wire eavetrongh holder as a leader. 
Its first season was hig:hly sucessful and prospects 
are bright for a material increase in business. 

Wm. H. Wenk developed a genius for mechanics as 
a small boy, on a farm in Deerfield. He gradually 
developed a saw mill and eider mill and made quite 
a line of cider mill machinery. Early in 1908, he 
outgrew his country facilities and bought a site from 
A, M. Wells on the bank of Thompson's lake. There 
he erected a building in the upper portion of which 
he placed his Deerfield business. In the bassraent 



207 RISTORT OF HOWELL 

he equipped a first-class creamery. Capital was in- 
terested in this change and the Howell Manufactu- 
ing Co. was the result. It was incorporated at 
$15,000. The new industry was opened tor busi- 
ness Sept. 15, 1909 and seenib; to be enjoying a pros- 
perous and growing patronage. 

City officials of late years have been as follows: 

1870— President, Her.rv H. Mills; clerk, Dennis 
Shields; assessor, Wm. Curtis; trustees, Albert Rid- 
dle, Wm. C. Rumsey, Francis N. Monroe, Calvin 
Wilcox, Andrew D. Waddell; marshall H. C. Briggs, 
stx-eet commissioner, Soiemon T. Lyon; pound master, 
James Fitzgerald; treasurer, H. C, Brigg?. 

1871— President Sardias F. Hubbell; clerk, An- 
drew D. \A ad dell.! assesscr, Wm. B. Smith; trustee'?, 
Neil O'Hearn, George H. Cooper, Floyd S. Wvkoff, 
Charles G, Jewett, and George Gree^naway; marshall, 
Leonard N. Fishbeek; street commissioner, William 
E. Huutly; treasurer, Leonard N, Fishbeek. 

1872— President, Sardias F. Hubbell; clerk, An- 
drew D. Waddell; ass^^ssor, Calvin Wilcox; tiustees, 
John W. ^Vright, George L. Sage, Fiobert C. Hutton, 
John M. White, John Jones; marshal! and treasurer, 
Henry A. Whipple; street commissioner, Wm. E, 
Huntly. 

1873— President, Niel O'Hearn; clerk, Edward B, 
Gregory; assessor, Harry J, Haven; trustees, F. N. 
Monroe, Asa VauKleeck, Wm. Beattie, Sylvester 
Andrews, Albert Riddle; marshall and treasurer, 
Hiram Hopper; street commissioner, Wm. C, Rum- 
sey. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 208 

1874 — President, F. N, Monroe; clerk, Royal H, 
Rumsey; assessor, Benj, Rubert; trustees, Wm. W. 
Finton, James A, Preston, \^'iliiam E. Watson, 
Horice G, W, Fry, George Bush; Mr, Fry never 
qualified and E. B. Gregory was elected to vacancy; 
street commissioner, Oharlt^s BtiKham; marshall 
and treasurer, Wni. Hainard, 

1875 — President, Florace Halbert; clerk, E. P. 
Gregovy; assessor, F. J. Hickey; trustees, Wm H. 
-Jewett, J. M, White. Frederick B, P>iown, Roswell 
Mott, Erastus Watrous; marshall and treasurer, 
Wm. F. Barnard; street commissioner, C, Brigham. 

1876— President, Harry J. Haven; clerk, Rolliu 
H. Person; assessor. Albeit Riddle; trustees, Asa 
VanKleeck, Robert A (-bambers, William L. Knapp, 
John W. Wright, N^ii O'Hearn; marshall and treas- 
urer, GcO . Bu^h; street commissioner, John Lee. 

1877 President, Asa VanKleeck; clerk, Rollin H, 
Person f assessor, Wm. B. Smiih; trustees, R. H. 
Rumsejrl L. N. Fishoeck, Stephen S, Mov^re, R. A, 
Chambers, J, W. Wrigh+; marshall and treasurer 
Arthur P. Field; street commissioner, Thomas J. 
Winegar; pound master, John Rouston. 

:878— President, Neil O'Hearn; Royal H. Rum- 
sey; assessor, William B. Smith; trustees, Wm, H. 
(ifilkes, Leonard N. Fishbeck, Harry J. Haven, 
Frank Kelly, George H. Warren; street commissioner, 
Thomas J. Winegar; treasurer, Thomas Ulark; health 
officer, W. L. Wells, 



209 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

1879— President, Johu H. Galloway; clerk, R. H. 

Riimsey; assessor, Beoj, H. Rubert; trustee, Asa 

VanKleeck, Mylo L. Gay, VVm. B. Smith, F. N. 

MoDroe, Leander C. Smith; street commissioner, T. 

J. Winegar; marshall, Thomas Clark; health officer 

H.R, Hitchcock. 
1880 — President, Leander C. Smith; clerk, Royal 

H. Rumsey; trustees, F. N. Monroe, Theodore B. 

Knapp, Wm McPherson Jr. Asa VanKleeck, W. W. 

Kenyou; sssessor, Albert Riddle; street commisioDer. 

Uharies Brigham; treasurer, Thomas Clark; health 

officer, R. C. Hatton. 

1881— President, Wm. B. Smith; clerk, Charles 

H. Brown; asessor, Albert Riddle; trustees, Wm. 

W. Kenyon, Rob^^rt A. Chambers, Theodore B. 

Knapp, John M, Clark for oae year. Homer N. 

Beach, F. N. Monroe, Charles L, Collier, L. N. Fish- 
beck for two years; street commissioner, Alonzo 
Teasdale; treasurer, Thomas Clark; hoalth officer, 
Henrj^ N, Spencer. 

1882 — President, Harry J. Haven; clerk, Frank 
O, Burt; assessor, Albert Riddle; trustees for two 
years, Henry D. Wilber, Fjdward Green away, Lorenzo 
H. Sulivan, to fill vacancy, Leslie E. Woodruff; 
street commissioner, A. Teasdale; marshall, Thomas 
Clark ; pound master, John Herbert ; health officer, 
Henry N. Spencer. 

1883— President, Wm. W. Kenyon, clerk, Patrick 
J. Hanimel: assessor, H, G. W. Fry; trustees, John 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 210 

V. Gilbert, John W V^' right, Edwin C. Sweet 
Theodore B. Knapp; vacancy, Charles A. Wood; 
street coramissioDex, A. Teasdale; treasurer, Thomas 
Clark. 

18S4 — President, George P. Dudley; clerk, George 
H. Chapel; assessor. Homer N. Beach; trustees, 
Frank P. Archer, Charles Fiitz, Alfred E. Fapwcrth, 
Loreazo H, Snlivan, vacaocy, Winton B. Brooks; 
nierht watch, Thomas Clark. 

1885 — President, Jay Corson; clerk, George H. 
Chapel; assessor, George W. Axtell; trustees, Thomas 
G. Switzer, Edger Noble, Frank J. Holt, Calvin 
Wilcox; health officer, E. B. Pratt; street commis- 
sioner, Char-es Brigham. 

1886— President, E. G. xVlcPherson ; clerk, Will. 
Force; assessor, AlDert Riddle; trustees, F. G. 
Hickey, William Switz, A, E. Papworth, W. B. 
Brooks; vacancy, L. J, Wright; health officer, R, 
W. Coleman; marshal and tiea*=urer, S. B Rubert; 
street commissioner, Charles Brigham; lamp lighter, 
Edgar Carpenter. 

1887— Presidt^H, Edward P. Gregory; clerk, Wil- 
liam M. Force; saeesor, Newtr.n Kirk; trustees, H. 
C. Wrierht, van'^-aney, George W Axtell, Charles 
Fritz, Charles L. Collier, William H Monroe, vacan- 
cy, Fred P. Schroedt r; marshall aud treasurer, Seth 
B. Rubert; night watch. Walter S. Papworth; street 
commissioner, Winton B. Brooks; health officer, 
John A. Wessinger 



211 HISTORIC OF HOWELL 

1888 — President, Dennis Shi»4ds; clerV, Bernerd L. 
Walker ; assessor, Thomas B. Clark; trustees, Cyrus 
S. Sweet, Amos Winegar, Wallace W. Barnard, 
George H, Chapel, marshall and treasurer, Jerome 
Wilber; lamp lighter, Jarvis Miller; night watch, 
Themas B. Clark; health ofRcer, Robert B. Bell, 
building inspector, L, J. Wiight 

1889— President, W. P. VauWintde; clerk, A. 
Riley Crittenden; assessor, Lewis J. Wri^^ht; trustees. 
Henry C. Wright, Thomas O'Conror, Robert B, 
Bell, Andrew B. Fiskbeck, vacancy, Edward iVanue 
street commissioner, A- S. Cooper; marsball, night 
watch and treasurer, Thomas B. Clark; health officer. 
Will C. Spencer; building inspectors, C. L. Collier, 
L, J. Wright, Charles Johnson. 

189()— President, Wm. P. Van Winkle; clerk, 
Edward J. Drewery; assessor, Tjewis J. \^' right; 
trustees, Amos Winegar, Edward Manne, Frank Z. 
Hubbell, Chas. E. Marston, vacai;cy John Bickbart; 
marshall and treasurer, Lyman V, D Cook; health 
officer, Robt. B. Bell. 

1891 — President, Wm. C. Huntington; clerk, Edi- 
son Wilber; assessor, Lewis J. Wright; trustees, 
Thomas J. Winegar, P. D, Skilbeck, Thomas Bar- 
ron, Daniel Purkey, vacancy, Charles Arnold; street 
commissioner, A. S. Cooper; marshall and treasurer, 
L. V. D. Cook; health officer, Dr. R. B. Bell. 

1892 — Pres. John Wright; clerk, Andrew Fishbeck; 
assessor, H. N, Be^ch; treasurer, James Ryan; 



RISTORy OF HOWELL 212 

trustees, Jerome Sherman, Henry Jones, Sylvester 
Andrews, John Biekhirfc; he-^lth oMcer O. N. Moon; 
night watch, Thomas B. Clark; attorney, W P. 
VauWinkle; street commissioner, John Farnsworth; 
marshal], T. J. Winegar; pound master, John Her- 
bert, Mr. Winegar only served a short time as mar- 
shall and resigned. Byron Phinps was elect<^d to 
vacancy. 

1893 — Presiaeiir, Jrbn W, Wright; clerk Edison 
J. Wilbur; assessor, Homer N. Beach; treasurer, 
James Ryan; trustees, Fred F. Hiibbell, Henry D. 
Wilber, Edv/ard C. Sweet, R. Bruce McPherson ; 
Hiarsball, Stephen Q. Fishbeck; health officer, Alex 
O'Neil; night watch, T. B, Clark; street commis- 
sioner, John Farnswort^i. 

1894 — Pr^si(ient, Arthui Garland; ^lerk, Edison 
J. Wilber; nssessor, George P. Dudley; treasurer, 
Milbr Beurman; trustees. Herbert J. Ackley, A. D, 
Thompson, C'arence J. Cook, Hugh A. McPherson, 
varaiicy John E. Gilmore; marshall, M. J, Dempsey; 
uight watch, l^yroQ D. Langworthy; water trustees, 
Thomar^ Gordon Jr. Miles W, Bullock, W un- 

tidgton; water clerk and inspector, Geo. P. Dudley. 

1895— President, J. C Walton; clerk, Henry H. 
Wines; assessor, Homer N. Beach; treasurer, E. 
Miller Beurmann; trustees, C. E. Burns, S. M. 
Armstrong, Geo, W. Axtell, Albert Thompson, 
Paigh A. McPherson, Frank Frieund: marshall, M, 
J. Dempsey: street commissioner, John Farnsworth: 



213 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

health officer A, O'Neil; attorney Luke S. Montague: 
resigned Julj- 15, Dwight Fitch appointed: niffht 
watch, B, D, Langworth.y. 

1S96— President, Robert B. Bell; clerk Henry H. 
Wines; tieasurer, Walter W. Knapp; assessor Amos 
Winegar; trustees, Andrew B. Fishbeck, Frank 
Freiund, Hugh A. McPherson ; attorney Dennis 
Shields; night watch. Will R. Knapp; marshall, 
Henry Pe^.tiboue; health offict^r, Alex. O'NeU; fire 
warden, L, N. Fishbeck; street commissioner, John 
Farnsworth; pound master, John HerDst; scavenger, 
Abram VanRlaricum. 

1897 — President, A. D, Thompson; clerk, Ara L. 
V. D. Cook; assessor, Amos Winegar; treasurer, 
Walter W. Knapp; tru«tees, Calvin Wilcox, Daniel 
Ratz, David L. Young; street commissioner, Jos. 
Gibouloug ; nis:ht watch, Edgar Corson; marshall, 
Jerome Wilber; health officer. Dr. J. E. Browne; at- 
torney, Ckude Bray^on ; fire warden, Fred Hopper, 
superintendent and clerk of water works, W P. 
ijrovier. 

1898— President, Louis E. Howlett; clerk, Ber- 
nard L. Walker; treasurer, R. E. Ban on; assessor, 
Walter W. Knapp; trustees, Ernest L. Avery, 
Frederick P. Euler, Homer N, Beach; street commis- 
son»^r, John Daiiiels; night v/atch, Heury Pettibone; 
attorney, W H. S. Wood; marshall, Eli L. Snyder, 
health officer, Alex. O'Neil; fire warden, L. N. Fish- 
beck; board of assessors, Everett D. Sargent, Julius 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 214 

Hesse, Fred F. Hubbell; surveyor, Miles W, Bul- 
lock; superintendent waterworks, George S, Durfee. 

1899— President, Louis E. Howlett; clerk, Ber- 
nard L. Walker; treasurer, Richard E. Barron: 
assessor, Walter ^^^ Knapp; trustees, Calvin Wilcox, 
C. Prank Shields, Amos Winegar 

1900— President, Louis E. Howlett; clerk, 
Charles P. Adams, treasurer, John B. Barron; 
assessor, Walter W. Knapp; trustees, Byron Kells, 
Electus Hadden, Charles W. Sharp; water clerk, E. 
J. Wilber; electric light and water f^ommission, Fred 
P Schroeder, 0. J. Parker, Calvin Wilcox. 

1901 — President Thomas Gordon Jr. ; clerk, Charles 
P. Adams; treasurer, John B. Barron; assessor, W. 
H. S. Wood; trustees, John T. Emmett, Charles F. 
Shields, T. O. Newcomb; attorney, F. J. Shield^; 
surveyor, M. W. Bullock; scavenger, Charles Ack'ey ; 
pound master. Charles Bab^ock; fire warden, Ti. ^, 
Fishbeck; water clerk, Edson J. Wilber. 

1902— President, E. P. Gresrory; clerk, James I. 
VanKeuren; assessor, W H. S. Wood; treasurer, A. 
K. Tooley; trustees, B3Ton Kells, Adoiph G, Kuehnl 
ijreorge W. VanVerst; street commissioner, John 
Parnsworth; surveyor, M, W. Bullock; night watch, 
VVm. Culver; s^^avenger, A. VanBlaricum; pound 
master, Jacob Held ; lire wardeu. L. N. B^ishbeck; 
Mr. VanKeuren left Howell during his term and L. 
R. Manning was elected clerk. 

1903— President, David D, Harger; clerk, L. R, 



215 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Manning; treasurer, Albert K. Toolej'; trustees, t'oi- 
two years, Edward A. Garland, Wm. Whitaker, 
Charles (Sharp, for one year Charles Granger; 
assessor, W. H. S, Wood; attorney, Januy j^, 
Greene; health officer, K. H, Baird; night watch, 
Wm. J. Culver; street commissioner, John Fains- 
worth; raarshall, Thomas Cl^rk; fire warden, L. N. 
Pishbeck; surveyor, M. W. Bullock; ^caveuger, 
Alonzo B. JohnsoD; pound master, Thomas R, Clark; 
members board of review, Wm. Whitaker, T P. 
Stowe. Mr. Clark's health failed during this year 
and Freeman Rorabacher was appointed his assistant; 
buildiug inspector, Robert Chambers, Asa VanKleeck. 

1904 — Fresideot, Amos Winegar; clerk. Luther R. 
Manning; treasurer, (reorge A, Wimbles; trustees, 
Henry Jubb, Charles L. Granger, John Henr> Hel- 
mer, assessor, Timothy P. Stowe ; secretary water 
works end electric light commissioner, D. Hartnell; 
pound master, Geo. B, Raymour; fire warden, L. N. 
Fishbeck; marshall, H. H, Collins; health officer, 
R. H. Baird; night watch, William Culver: scavan- 
g'er, Alonzo B. Johnson: attorney, James A. Greene: 
street commissioner, George H, Dieterle. 

1905— President. Electus Hadden: clerk, Luther 
R. Manning; treasurer, Wiiber B. Johnson; trustees 
Edward A. Garland, Andrew O. Hutching; assessor, 
Tim P, Stowe, Alfred Copeland; marshall. Freeman 
Rorabacher; health officer, R, H. Baird; nigh<-. watch 
William Culver: attorney, David D. Harger: street 



RISTORT OF HOWELL 216 

commistiioDer, Johu Farnsworth: Dound master, 
George B. Raymour: firewarden, L. N. Fishbeck : 
scavenger, Charles Aekley: member electric light and 
water commission, W, P. Grovier , l^rank Wright. 

1906— President, Chester A. Parshall: clerk, Wil- 
liam E. B«ach: treasurer, Wilber B. Johnson: 
trustees, Harry L. Williams, F, Elmer Mills, Emmett 
J. Whalian, to fill vacancy, Eugene A. Stowe: asses 
sor, E. Miller Beurmann: street coramission«*;r, James 
Riley: attorney, W, P. Van Winkle: health officer, 
J, E. Browne: night watch, W. J. Culver: fire war- 
den, L, N, Fishbeck: member electric light a)!d water 
works commission, Jay C. Walton: members board 
of review, Asa Van Kleeck, E. P. Gregory, 

1907— Presiclent, Hugh A, McPherson ; clerk, 
William E, Beach; treasurer, James H, Miner; trus- 
tees, Edmund C. Shields, Claude B. Culver, William 
E. Sunderlands; assessor, E. Miller Beurmann; street 
commissioner, James Riley; health officer, J. E. 
Hrownrt; attorney, R. D. Roche; night w^atch, W. J, 
Culver; marshali, W, J. Culver; fire warden, L. N 
Fishbeck; members b( ard of review, Homer N. 
Beach, E. P. Gngory; membei electric light and 
water works commission, E. A. Bowman; secretary 
commission, L. P. Melendy, 

190S — President, Amos Winegar; clerk, William 
E. Beach; treasurer, James H. Miner; trustees, 
Walter W, Knapp, George W. Wright, Joseph 
Frank; assessor, E, Miller Beurmann; marshali, 



217 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Freeman Rorabacher; night watch, VV J- Culver; 
health officer J . E. Browne; member elecrj-ic li^^rht 
and water commission, CaU-in Wilcox; fire warden, 
L. N. Fishbeck; street commissioner, John Farus- 
worth; attorney, Richard D. Roche; members hoard 
of review, Daniel Ratz, E. P. Gregory; scMetary 
electric light and water commission, L. P. Melend\ , 

1909 — President, ( 'alvin Wilcox; clerk, John Hag- 
man; treasurer, A. J. Brown; trus^-ees, F, J. Fish- 
beck, lieorge J. Payne, W. J. Laik'n; a!^£e?sOl, E. 
Miller Beurmann ; men: bt is electric light ard water 
commission, to fill vacancy, A. J. Parker; full term, 
David Young; members board oi review, Daniel 
Ratz, John Kirk; att^.Tney, Louis Howlett; health 
officer, E. H. Bailey; Are warden, L. N Fishbeck; 
street commissioner, Geors'e Brigham ; sewer inspec- 
tor and surveyor, Robert Long: marshall, Freeman 
Rorabacher: secretary electric light and water com 
mission. L. P. Melendy. 

19IG — President, Thomas Gordon Jr: clerk, John 
A. Hagman: treasurer, A.J. Brown: trustees, E. 
J. Drewery, Elmer Smith, Joseph Frank: assessor, 
E. Miller Be>irmann: street commissioner, E. E. 
Howe; marshall, l»aniel Ratz; night watch, Wm. J. 
Culver; member electric light and water commission, 
E. A. Bowman: fire warden, L. N. Fishbeck; sewer 
inspector and surveyor, Grant Dunning; secretary 
electric light and water commission, L. P, Mebndy, 
members board of review, C. A. Parshali, James 
Miner. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 218 

June 28, 1906, A. Riley Crittenden returned to 
Howell and established a small weekly paper named 
Livingston Tidings. In a few weeks it was changed 
to twice a week, and that ^ali to three times a week. 
It has been a prosperous publication from the start, 
as a result of hard work by the publisher and his 
wife. In November 1910, the Herald having pre 
viously gone into the hands of its creditors, it ac- 
quired that publication and amalgamated the two 

plants. 

Largely through the influence of Tidings the 
Howell Commercial club was formed in 1910. Its 
birth commemorating the visit of Grand Rapids 
wholesale dealers who were entertained bv Howell 
business men at the 'Romans club rooms. Its officers 
were; President, R. B McPherson; Vice president, 
E. A. Stowe; secretary L, R. Manning; treasurer, 

D. L. Young; executive committee L. E. Howlett, 

E. A. Bowmau, O. J. Parker, C. A. Goodnow, F. P. 
Schroeder. When Mr. Manning moved away A. L, 
Smith was elected in his place. The club secured the 
Ewer Wrench and Tool Mfg. Co for which $15000 
of local stock was raised, the old company holdiner 
$10,000 ot stock in the new company here. It has 
built a building and is just fairly getting under 
headway. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 219 



INDEX 

Page 

Adams' Mill 39 

Advertisements Early ' 73 

All Saints Church 100 

Ann Arbor Rail Road 85 

Assessment Roll, First 26 

Bank, First 149 

Baptist Chnrcii Organized 35 

Bending Works 193 

Bible Society 63 

Bingham Kingsley 55 

Blacksmith Shop, First 28 

Bowman, E. A 198 

Brickmaking 39 

Bridgebuildin^ in Pioneer Days 27 

Brigg«, H . G 156 

Burying Ground, First 40 

Canal Project 77 

Cardell Addition 143 

Carnegie Library 203 

Cemetery Located 59 

Centrnl School Building • 146 

Characteristics of County 12 

Charter Election, First 144 

Cirouit Court, First ; 33 

City Grist Mill 90 

Commercial Club 218 

Condensed Milk Co, 168 

Congregational Church 63 

Corporation officers; 

Early , 144 

Later 207 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 220 

Corson, Jay 181 

County Agricultural Society 93 

County Commissioners 54 

County Election, First 26 

County Fairs 93 

County offices; 

At Eagle Tavern 56 

First Building for 56 

Buildings Erected ... 58 

County Seat; 

Brighton Agitation 55 

Location of 26 

County Sunday School Association 182 

Court House 178 

Contract Places for 56 

First Building 56 

Old Bell for 57 

Site for Located 57 

Used for Religous Services 58 

Cowdry's Addition 92-141 

Cow Lawsuit 65 

Death, First in Howell 34 

Detroit and Grand River Plank Road 78 

Detroit and Howell Piauk Road 79 

Detroit and Howell R. R 59 81 

Doctor, First 41 

Domestic Animals 40 

Drowning in Thompson's Lake 183 

Drugstores 201 

Eagle Tavern, First Hotel 18 

" " Burned 102 

Ewer Wrench and Tool Mfg. Co 218 

Excursion, First to Owosso 87 

Factories, Early 61 

Fair Ground Changed 93 

Fires 

First Building Burned 102 

Fire Company 168 

Second Large Fire 168 



221 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Great Fire of 1887 180 

Fire of 1892 192 

First State and Savings Bank 192 

Fleming Post Office 60 

Food of the Pioneers 34 

Four Mile House 91 

Fourth of July Celebration .61 

French and English (claims 9 

Fun, End of the 64 

Garland, Arthur 164 

General Training 60 

Goodnow & Beach , 168 

Good Templars 175 

Green Houses 199 

Gregory, Rev. E. E 71 

Gregory E. P 152 

HicKey & Goodnow 16*i 

Holstein Cattle Industry , 195 

Horses, First in Howell 14 

'^Howell and Byron Plank Road 79 

' ' Business Col lege 205 

' ' Foundry 89 

Howell Grist Mill 89 

Howell, How Named 17 

Howell Independent 163 

Howell Masonic Lodge .88 

Howell Township Organized 24 

Howell Village Platted 17 

Howell Village Incorporated 144 

Indian Burying Ground 8 

Indian Owners Here 7 

Indian Territory ; 10 

Indian Trails 9 

Indian Treaty, First Here 9 

Jail, Proposition Voted Down 35 

Jewett Addition , 142 

Jewett, Chas. G 170 

Know Nothings 154 

Land, First Located 42 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 222 

Lansing aud Howell Plank Road 80 

Ladies' Liquor Raid . 105 

Lawyers Early 69 

In Howell 106 

" First , 41 

Lawsuit First 26 

Liberty Pole, First. 27 

Livingston Center, Appearance in 1836-37 31 

" " so called 17 

'• County, Laid Out 10 

*♦ " Organized 10 

Courier 72 

Democrat 99 

" Herald , 176 

*« Republican 94 

Tidings 218 

Losoford, Abraham 99 

Macomb Co , Part of 10 

Mail Carrier, First 21 

Mail, where Before Post Office Here 21 

Marr Burying Ground 60 

Medical Society 174 

Methodist Church 24 

Milk Factory 194 

Mills, H. H. and Son 96 

Monroe Bros 95 

Munson Prof. F. W, 97 

Murder Trial, First ,105 

McPherson Addition 142 

Bank 29-150 

,, Wm , Arrival 27 

" & Sons 29 

Newspaper, First . , 72 

Normal Training School 183 

Northwest Territory 10 

Oakland County, Part of 10 

Odd Fellows Lodge, First 88 

Opera House 192 

Parker O. J 201 



223 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Parsons & Beach 67 

Parsons, Birt F , 194 

Pere Marquette R. R 85 

Phoenix Foundry and Machine Shops 91 

Physicians, Early 68 

In Howell 106 

Pinckney Home 42 

Pioneer Society 163 

Politicians, Early 155 

Political Parties, Firsts Election by .27 

Postmaster, First 21 

Post Office Secued Here 21 

Post Office and Post Masters 171 

Pottawattomie Indians 7 

Presbyterian Church 

Early Connections , .55 

First Church Built 55 

First Pastor 60 

Organization of 54 

Prisoner Escaped 66 

Probate Judge, First 55 

Early . 54 

Public School Building 62 

,, ,, First 30 

Rail Road, First Project , 78 

,, ,, First Built 84 

., ,, Crossing War 86 

,; ,, Indignation Meeting 87 

Red Bird Stage 50 

Religious Service, First 18 

Reported Land Worthless 10 

Representative?, Early , . . ., 106 

Rowe, Joseph 72 

Rubert Hotel 53 

Saginaw Chippewe Indians .7 

Salvation Army 179 

Sauks, Former Owners 7 

Saw Mill ....28 

School Board and Teachers 148 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 224 

School Site Located 146 

Schoolhouse, First , 33 

School Teachers, Early 147 

Select Schools 62 

Sermons First 23 

Settlements, First... 10 13 

Settlers, First 11 

Settlers, List of Early. . 20 

Shaft's Hotel 53 

Sheriff Residence and Jail 177 

Shiawassee County, Part of , . ; 10 

Shields, Dennis 155 

Shields & Shields 156 

Shoe Shop, First 34 

Skilbeck, Joseph H 72 

Sliter's Hotel 44 

Sliter's Saw Mill 90 

Small Pox 184 

Spring^s Hotel 50 

Squirters 47 

Stage Lines 76 

Stair, E. D 95 

State Roads 75-77 

State Sanitorium 197 

Store, First 28 

,, First Permanent , 32 

Street Fairs 94 

Suicide, Early 67 

Sullivan, Nicholas 72 

Superintendents of Schools 148 

Supervisors, First Meeting of Board 27 

Supervisors, Permanent Organization 54 

St, John's Episcopal church 101 

St Joseph's Catholic church 165 

Temperance Hotel 52 

Temporary Building, First 12 

Thompson's Addition 140 

Thompson's lake 28 

Toll Road, End of 80 



225 HISTORY OF HOWELL 

Town Meeting, First 35 

Township OflBlcers, First , 157 

,, ,, Later 185 

Township Sunday School Association 182 

Train, First in Howell 85 

Travel, Early 75 

Turner, Judge ,.. 75 

Twisting of Lawsuit 67 

Union Hall 53 

Union Lyceum 60 

Union School Building 93-145 

VanKleeck, Asa 156 

Ward Schools 149 

Washington Heights Addition 143 

Water Works 170 

Wayn 3 County, Fart of ., 10 

Weddings, First 33 

Weimeister & O'Hearn 151 

Wenk, Wm. H , Creamery 306 

West Howell M. E. Church 91 

White Child, First 15 

Whipple Addition 143 

Wickman Wire Works 206 

Wilcox Addition 143 

Will, First in Probate 54 

V\ ildcat Banks 40 

Winter, Very Hard 103 

Wolf Bounty 35 

Wolf Stories 30 

Wright's Planing Mill 155 



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